Lourd

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff or over a part, often for a bass line or an accompaniment figure. It sets a heavy manner for the passage until a lighter word (léger) or a new character marking replaces it.

How Composers Use It

The French counterpart of pesante: weighty attack, full value on every note and a sense of effort, usually without any quickening. Use it for ostinatos, dances and processional basses that should feel grounded. Bizet gives it to the piano in a song whose accompaniment is marked bien rhythmé from the start. Pair it with fast tempos only if you want a deliberately clumsy effect.

Example

Bizet, 20 Mélodies, Op. 21, “Adieux de l’hôtesse arabe”, piano, m. 23: “lourd”; the song opens “Andantino” with “bien rhythmé”.

Related Terms