Duftig

As Printed on a Score

Printed over a passage, usually soft, to describe its texture — in Lieder often over the piano’s figuration rather than the voice. It holds until the next character word; like most German colour words it has no formal cancellation.

How Composers Use It

Literally ‘fragrant’ or ‘hazy’: an airy, delicate, transparent sound — fine, light textures and figuration with nothing weighted, close to leggiero and delicato. It suits accompaniments and high-register figuration. Keep the dynamic low and the texture open, since duftig at f is a contradiction no performer can resolve.

Example

Cornelius, 6 Lieder, Op. 1, “Schmetterling”, piano, m. 18: “duftig”, a bar after a pp.

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