Lunga

As Printed on a Score

Printed over or beside a fermata — lunga, or lunga pausa over a rest or a general pause — to say the hold should be long; it affects only that sign. Italian agrees the adjective with its noun, so the masculine lungo also appears.

Also spelled: lungo, longa

How Composers Use It

A bare fermata leaves the length to the performer; lunga asks them to be generous — for a final chord meant to ring away or a silence the drama needs. If the exact length matters, write a duration in seconds or beats instead. Save it for the one or two holds that need it; a score full of lunga fermatas loses the distinction.

Example

Dvořák, Symphony No. 9 in E minor (“From the New World”), fourth movement, flute 1, m. 348: “lunga” in the symphony’s last bar, printed in the other woodwind and brass parts too, with “dim.” in the flute.

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