Long

As Printed on a Score

Printed as an articulation word above notes (long, very long) or, more often, above a pause sign or a rest to ask for a long hold (long pause); it applies only to the note or hold it marks.

How Composers Use It

Use it to ask for notes held to full value, or to tell the performer to extend a pause; over a fermata it is the English counterpart of lunga. Long is relative, so say roughly how long if timing matters, especially in ensemble music where everyone must stop and restart together.

Related Terms