Fermata

Fermata is a musical notation symbol indicating that a note or rest should be held longer than its written value. The standard sign consists of a dot with a semicircular arc above it (or below it, for notes or voices on a different staff). When placed over a note, the performer sustains that note beyond its printed duration; when placed over a rest, the silence is extended. The mark may occur above or below the staff to accommodate multiple voices within a texture.

Interpretation of a fermata is not fixed by the notation; the length is typically at the performer's or conductor's discretion, guided by the musical style, tempo, and context. In ensembles, the conductor often determines the hold length, sometimes by cueing a breath or a pause; in solo or chamber music, the performer decides within stylistic conventions. In many extant scores, a short fermata is used for a quick pause, while deeper, more dramatic moments call for a longer hold.

Historically, fermatas appear in Western notation from the Baroque period onward, and the term is Italian for "they stop" or "held." A related device is the grand pause (G.P.), a long interruption that may affect the entire ensemble. The symbol can provide emphasis, pacing, or structural separation within a piece and is widely used across classical and contemporary music.