Atempause

Atempause is a German term meaning "breath pause." It is used in music, theatre, and spoken performance to indicate a brief pause intended for taking a breath or to momentarily slow the flow of speech or singing.

In music notation, the Atempause is commonly conveyed by a breath mark at the end of a phrase or within a line, or by the textual instruction "Atempause" in score notes. While it is not a separate universal symbol, the term guides performers on when to pause without changing the overall tempo.

In singing, Atempause helps manage vocal support and phrasing, especially in long lyrical lines; it allows the singer to breathe while preserving musical line or expression. In instrumental and choral works, it also serves to clarify phrase endings and to facilitate balanced ensemble performance.

In performance practice, the length of an Atempause is relative to tempo and phrase structure; performers may adjust duration for balance and stylistic considerations. In editions aimed at German-speaking audiences, editors sometimes annotate Atempause to ensure consistency with linguistic cadence and interpretive goals.

See also: breath mark, caesura, fermata, phrasing.