Ligature (music)

The ligature is a special notation to illustrate the connection of two or more notes in square, Modal and mensural.

In neume notation more tones associated with a syllable are usually shown with a solid line. After the introduction of staff lines in the 11th century, the line-shaped neumes were written on the note lines initially on. However, from the 12th century, the writer emphasized increasingly the position of the notes on the staff by this related the broad side of the pen; the square notation was developed. Now the individual note heads were clearly visible, the note groups, however, were still written connected. This ligatures are with each other standing marks each from below to sing up next to each other just in the read direction from left to right.

With the touch of the square notation also polyphonic music was recorded from the late 12th century, for which developed the rules of Modalnotation in the 13th century. Certain combinations of different lengths ligatures indicated, in which a rhythm section should be performed.

Also for mensural also includes ligatures. There are numerous ligatures variants mean each with a different rhythm. Already in the 16th century, however, they are rare; this may be because on the one hand, that ligatures in the note printing heavier represent let single notes, on the other hand often shorter note values ​​are now used, which can not be represented as ligatures. In modern notation, which was created in 1600, ligatures have no place.

In modern notation, the term " ligature " is also used synonymously for ties.

• Neume