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A symbol indicating that a note or rest should be held beyond its normal duration. The length is at the performer's discretion.
The fermata suspends musical time. Use it for dramatic pauses, cadential emphasis, or moments of reflection. At the end of phrases (especially in chorales), fermatas mark breathing points. In concertos, fermatas mark the cadenza — the soloist's improvised display.
Bach's chorales — fermatas mark the end of each phrase, creating breathing points in the four-part harmony.
Fermata is one of 228 terms in the Gradus musical dictionary, where every definition is written around how composers actually use the word.
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