Re: terminology help

[The Man Himself <altruist@shoko.calarts.edu>]

On Fri, 20 Jun 1997, Mikell D. Nelson wrote:

>   Can someone provide clear definitions of ostinato and legato,
> especially as they would apply to guitar. Being a 'street' musician I
> don't know the meaning of many musical terms. Thanks for the primer.

An ostinato is essentially a repeated figure or phrase, particularly with 
regards to the rhythmic element.  Just about any loop could probably be 
classified as an ostinato figure of some kind or another.

Legato refers to a type of phrasing, employing a very smooth and sustained
articulation between notes.  Allan Holdsworth's "school" of playing is
often referred to as the "legato technique," due largely to its very
smooth, horn-like quality.  The opposite of this is stacatto, which deals
with much shorter note durations and a more percussive, "clipped" sense of
articulation.  Al DiMeola might be a good example of this for guitar; 
flamenco guitar phrasing is generally very stacatto as well, with its
bursts and flurries of activity. 

Hope this is helpful,

--Andre