Which term matches 'Play the first note as half the value as the second note'?

Which term matches 'Play the first note as half the value as the second note'?

• A. Atonality
• B. Appoggiatura
• C. Andante
• D. Allegro

Answer: (B)

Playing a short decorative note before the main note and having it take half of the following note’s time is describing an appoggiatura. It’s an ornamental note that occurs on the beat and steals half the value from the principal note, giving a quick leading emphasis before the main pitch sounds. This differs from an acciaccatura, which is a crushed grace note that eats little or no time. The other terms are tempo or key-related rather than ornamental timing: Andante and Allegro are about speed, and Atonality concerns lack of a clear tonal center.

Playing a short decorative note before the main note and having it take half of the following note’s time is describing an appoggiatura. It’s an ornamental note that occurs on the beat and steals half the value from the principal note, giving a quick leading emphasis before the main pitch sounds. This differs from an acciaccatura, which is a crushed grace note that eats little or no time. The other terms are tempo or key-related rather than ornamental timing: Andante and Allegro are about speed, and Atonality concerns lack of a clear tonal center.