Legato

Legato (Italian for 'tied together') is a musical articulation denoting a smooth, flowing performance style. It requires playing or singing notes in a connected manner, without any perceptible breaks between them. The performer aims to create an unbroken, sustained sound, emphasizing the melodic line's continuity. This is typically achieved through smooth transitions, minimizing separation between notes, and careful control of dynamics and phrasing. It can apply to any instrument or voice, enhancing the musical expressiveness and creating a sense of lyricism and grace. The effect is often achieved by using a smooth bow stroke on stringed instruments, connected tonguing on wind instruments, or a smooth vocal technique. The aim of a legato passage is for it to flow together and produce the feeling of smoothness.

Legato meaning with examples

• The violinist played the opening phrase of the concerto in a beautiful legato, drawing the audience into the music's emotion with the seamless connection of the notes. The phrasing had a warmth to it, a sense of fluidity. The notes never sounded jarring or disconnected from the music itself. It created a perfect balance of technique.
• In the piano sonata, the composer marked several passages legato, instructing the pianist to play the melody with a smooth, connected touch. This style helped bring out the song's flowing lines and conveyed a sense of peacefulness. The listener felt the gentle melody move by without interruption, which conveyed its intended feelings.
• The vocalist's legato delivery on the ballad was breathtaking; her voice soared and connected each note, creating a seamless tapestry of sound. The phrasing came across as very natural sounding. The musical phrasing of the performance created a wonderful example of an overall beautiful presentation of legato.
• The clarinetist was tasked with performing a fast, technical passage legato, a skill that required exceptional breath control and finger dexterity. The notes remained smooth and connected even with their high tempo. This created an illusion of continuous movement while showcasing impressive skill.