Non-Legato Touch

Defined

If legato means to be played without any perceptible interruption between the notes, non-legato means to be played with a perceptible interruption.

Non-legato differs from legato in that a break is perceptible (that is, a break is present). It differs from staccato, however, in that a break is merely perceptible (that is, the break is not very large).

Other terms are used for a non-legato touch, each one with its own subtle implications:

• leggiero (meaning light or nimble)
• articulate (as opposed to legato or sustained)
• articulate legato (referring to the “ordinary touch” commonly applied when performing early music)