Tenuto

In music, tenuto (Italian for "held") is a direction indicating that a note or chord should be sustained for its full value, or slightly more. It marks an emphasis on the duration of the note, implying a holding or stretching of the sound. While sometimes confused with marcato, which emphasizes the attack of a note, tenuto focuses on the sustained duration and can often impart a feeling of weight or importance to the note.

The tenuto marking is typically indicated by a horizontal line placed above or below the note to which it applies. The precise interpretation of tenuto is somewhat subjective and depends on the musical context, tempo, and instrument. It often calls for a slight dynamic emphasis as well, contributing to a richer and more expressive performance. The extent to which the note is held or emphasized is left to the performer's discretion within the stylistic framework of the piece.