agogic

comparative more agogic · superlative most agogic

1. Accentuating a note by extending it slightly beyond its normal time value.

   Obviously, extended melodies should end on the strongest and most agogic melodic cadence.

   1997, David Cope, “Extended Melodic Lines”, in Techniques of the Contemporary Composer, New York, N.Y.: Schirmer Books, →ISBN, chapter 3 (New Roles of Melody), page 32

   3 more examples

   On most early instruments, changes were made only at agogic pauses, caesuras, repeats or between sections.

   1974, Margery Halford, “Piano or Harpsichord?”, in François Couperin, translated by Margery Halford, L’Art de toucher le Clavecin (The Art of Playing the Harpsichord), 2nd edition, Alfred Publishing Co., Inc., published 2008, →ISBN, “Expression and Style” section, page 24

   6F is the longest-held cadence sonority (it has the most agogic emphasis), and ends very conclusively with the V₇-I-V₇-V-I chord progression.

   1978, Rhenda Ronfeldt Pease, An Analytical Study of Twentieth-Century Cadential Techniques, Kalamazoo, Mich.: Western Michigan University, →OCLC, page 153

   Timpanists need to be particularly aware of agogic accents because they often swallow up the smaller notes that precede them.

   2010, Steven L[aurence] Schweizer, “Musical Interpretation and the Timpanist”, in Timpani Tone and the Interpretation of Baroque and Classical Music, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 43

plural agogics

1. entertainmentAn accent that accentuates a note by extending it slightly beyond its normal time value.