Gebunden

As Printed on a Score

Printed under a piano part or over a melodic line, often strengthened (“sehr gebunden”, “immer gebunden”) and in bilingual editions paired with legato or sempre legato. It governs the passage until a contrary word (kurz, gestoßen, staccato) or the end of the section; slurs in the notation still show the phrasing within it.

How Composers Use It

The German for legato, and in string and wind parts also for slurred — notes joined in one bow or breath. Use it as a blanket instruction where slurs over every figure would clutter the page, especially in accompaniments; sehr gebunden asks for the closest possible join between notes. Schumann sets the whole tone of a slow song’s piano part with it.

Example

Schumann, Liederkreis, Op. 39, No. 9 (“Wehmut”), piano, m. 1: “sehr gebunden” at p, in a song headed “Sehr langsam.”

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