Pralltriller

Pralltriller is a musical ornament used in Western classical music. In German theory it is described as a short trill or rapid alternation between the principal note and the note above, usually beginning on the upper neighbor and resolving back to the main note. The effect is a quick emphasis on the upper neighbor without prolonging the sound like a full trill.

In Baroque and Classical practice the Pralltriller is indicated by ornament signs or by the instruction to perform it as a short trill. Its exact execution varies with period, tempo, and style; editors and treatises differ on the number of alternations, typically two to four notes in a short span.

Performance practice typically starts on the upper neighbor and proceeds with rapid alternations returning to the main note, with the number of repetitions adapted to the tempo and musical context. The ornament should be concise, fit the phrase, and land clearly on the main note to preserve musical clarity.

Relation to other ornaments: the Pralltriller is closely related to the trill and to the mordent, which uses the lower neighbor; the longer trill involves more extensive alternation. In some traditions the inverted mordent is described similarly to a Pralltriller, so terminology can vary between sources. Notable usage appears in Baroque keyboard and vocal literature, and modern editions often provide suggested realizations based on period style.