Très léger

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff or between piano staves at the start of the passage, often as the first word under a tempo heading; older French engravings hyphenate it (très-léger). It holds until the character changes, and a dynamic usually stands beside it because it names no level.

Also spelled: tres leger, très-léger

How Composers Use It

Très léger asks for the least possible weight: fast, fluttering figures, quiet repeated notes, accompaniments that should sound like air rather than chords. It is a natural partner for Vif or Rapide and for pp, and it tells pianists to keep the arm out of the keys and string players to use very little bow weight. Avoid accents or marcato in the same passage — the two pull in opposite directions.

Example

Chausson, Sept Mélodies, Op. 2, “Les papillons”, piano, m. 1: “très-léger”, hyphenated in the old manner, with a pp under the heading “Vif”.

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