Enlevez la sourdine

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff before the passage that should sound unmuted, as the counterpart of mettez la sourdine; the plural addresses a section. In string and brass parts it removes the mute; in French piano music, where sourdine can mean the soft pedal, it releases the una corda.

Also spelled: enlevez les sourdines

How Composers Use It

Give players time: strings need a few beats to remove a mute and brass more, so place it over rests. Ôtez la sourdine and sans sourdine say the same, as does senza sordino. In piano music Ravel uses it to end a passage played with both pedals. Choose one wording for mutes on and one for off, and keep to them throughout a score.

Example

Ravel, Miroirs, No. 4, “Alborada del gracioso”, piano, m. 79: “enlevez la sourdine”, in a “Plus lent” bar; the score asks for “2 Ped.” — both pedals — at m. 75 and again at m. 82.

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