Non-Legato Touch

Early Music

Probably the most common general application for a less-than-legato touch is in the organ music composed through about 1750, the year marking the close of the Baroque era and the death of J. S. Bach. Non-legato connections are commonly used in several interesting ways in the performance of this music--for example:

• to serve as the normal or ORDINARY TOUCH (in this context, non-legato is applied in a very subtle, flexible manner)
• to accent the note following a LARGE SKIP
• to heighten points of HARMONIC TENSION, such as suspensions or other dissonances
• to accent points of MELODIC PEAK
• to strengthen the METRICAL STRUCTURE
• to shape and clarify MOTIVIC STRUCTURE

Successfully articulating in this way happens when the timing of the releases is precise. Much experimentation and careful musical listening can lead to mastery of this technique.