Nicht

As Printed on a Score

Stands before the word it negates: Nicht eilen, nicht schleppen, nicht teilen, nicht zu schnell. In a heading it limits the tempo word beside it (“Ruhig, nicht schleppend”); as a running direction it lasts until the music changes. Mahler often adds an exclamation mark (nicht teilen!) to stress a warning against a habit players fall into.

How Composers Use It

A negative direction anticipates the performer’s instinct: nicht eilen where the music invites rushing, nicht schleppen where a slow tempo tempts dragging, nicht teilen where string players might divide double stops. Used sparingly it is precise; when you can name what you do want, a positive word (Ruhig, Fliessend) usually communicates better. For “not too”, write nicht zu, which limits rather than forbids.

Example

Mahler, Symphony No. 5, second movement, flutes, m. 234: “Von hier an nicht mehr schleppen!” — “from here on, no more dragging”, printed at p.

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