Illustration of accent pathetique
accent pathétique
- Definition:
Mathis Lussy's term for an agogic or dynamic emphasis that a
performer imparts to notes that create tension against the
underlying tonality, meter, or rhythmic pattern. For example,
pathetic accents can coincide with syncopations, metrically
or agogically accented dissonances (e.g., suspensions and
appoggiaturas ), chromatically altered tones, upper neighbor
notes, high notes, long notes, or notes approached by leap.
In performance, an accent pathetique takes precedence over an
accent métrique or an accent rhythmique occurring near
it. Thus, for example, a performer can de-emphasize a downbeat in
favor of a syncopation commencing on the second beat of the
measure. Similarly, the first note of a phrase may be
de-emphasized if the next note receives an accent pathétique.
Performers can project pathetic accents through mouvements
(slight fluctuations in the duration of beats) and nuances
(subtle dynamic inflections). Musical expression results
when performers balance these nuances and mouvements
with counteractions. For instance, a slight accelerando and
crescendo to a long climactic dissonance on a weak beat
typically calls for a subsequent slight hesitation and
diminuendo. See
Green (1994),
accent rhythmique, and
accent métrique.
