Ordinario

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff as ord. (or ordinario in full) at the note where an effect ends — after sul pont., sul tasto, col legno, flutter-tongue or harmonics. It is a cancelling word: from that point the normal way of playing resumes and lasts until the next special instruction.

Abbreviations: ord.

Also spelled: ordinaire, ord

How Composers Use It

Every special technique in a part needs an end, and ord. is the usual way to give it. Place it exactly where the normal sound returns, not a bar late, and be specific when other effects are cancelled by their own opposites (pizz. by arco, mutes by senza sord.). Naturale and normale do the same job; pick one and use it throughout the score.

Related Terms