Fermata: hold the note
A fermata is a symbol, a small dot under an arc, that tells you to hold a note or a rest longer than its written value. The word is Italian for stop. The performer, or the conductor, decides how long.
Fermata (say fehr-MAH-tah) comes from the Italian fermare, to stop. It tells a performer to pause on a note or rest and hold it longer than the written value. Many people call it a bird's eye, because the symbol looks like an eye with a pupil. It is placed above the note, or below it when it is turned upside down.
How is a fermata written?
The sign is an arc with a dot inside it. It usually goes above the note or rest it affects. In some scores, especially for voices or for notes with stems pointing up, the upside-down form appears below the note. A fermata can also sit above a bar line, which means a short pause between sections, or above a double bar to show the end of a section.
How long do you hold a fermata?
There is no fixed rule. A common guide is to hold the note about twice its written value, but musicians vary this widely. The length depends on the style of the piece, the acoustics of the room and the mood the composer wants. A fermata at the very end of a piece is often held for longer and ends with a gentle release. A fermata in the middle of a piece may be just a small stretch, to let a phrase breathe. In an ensemble the conductor decides when to stop the sound and when to move on.
Practice tip: Do not count the fermata strictly. Listen to the sound. When it feels like the music has settled, move on together with the group.
How do you play a fermata on different instruments?
- Piano: Hold the key down and let the sound ring. Use the pedal to keep the harmony alive if the style allows it. Pay attention to the next entry so that the pause does not feel awkward.
- Strings: Keep the bow moving at a steady speed. Players often save a long bow for the held note. Keep the tone alive until the cutoff.
- Winds and brass: Plan your breath so you have enough air. You may breathe quietly, with the group, if the fermata is long.
- Voice: Keep the vowel clear and supported. The choir should wait for the conductor to release the note together.
What does a fermata over a rest mean?
When the symbol sits above a rest, it means a silence longer than written. This is used to create tension, to let the sound of the room fade or to surprise the listener. The pause is also usually led by the conductor. Another sign, the caesura (two slanted lines, //), also asks for a short stop, but it is a break in the music rather than a held note.
What is a famous fermata?
Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C minor begins with a short, strong four-note motif. The last note of each statement carries a fermata, so the listener hears each statement held and then followed by silence. The pauses are part of the drama. The same idea shows up in many hymns, where a fermata at the end of a line tells singers to take a breath and hold the final note a bit longer.
How is a fermata different from other signs?
- Tenuto: Holds the note for its full value. A fermata makes it longer than the value.
- Caesura: A short break or stop between phrases.
- Breath mark: A comma-like sign that tells singers and wind players where to breathe, usually without extending the music much.
- Ritardando: Gradually slows the tempo. A fermata is a one-time pause, not a gradual change. See ritardando.
Check yourself
1. What does the Italian word fermata mean?
Answer: Stop. It comes from fermare, to stop.
2. What does a fermata tell you to do?
Answer: Hold the note or rest longer. The performer decides how long.
3. How long is a fermata held?
Answer: There is no fixed length. Twice is a common guide, but it varies.
4. Where does a fermata usually appear?
Answer: Above the note or rest. It can also appear below, turned upside down.