Soutenues

Soutenues is a French term used in musicology and performance contexts to describe notes, phrases, or passages that are sustained or held with smooth, connected articulation. The concept emphasizes continuity and legato, rather than separation or detachment.

Etymology and form: Soutenue derives from the verb soutenir, meaning to sustain or support. As a noun or adjective, soutenue (or soutenues in the plural) is used primarily in French-language sources to label a style of articulation or a state of sustain within a passage.

Usage in practice: In performance notes, soutenues indicate that a line should be produced with a continuous, even sound, often with a generous connection between notes. This may be achieved through vocal breathing, phrasing, finger legato on instruments, or the use of the sustain pedal on keyboard instruments. In scores, the directive can appear in pedagogical writings or historical editions to describe a characteristic style of articulation, particularly in French musical literature or analysis. In English-language usage, the concept is usually described with terms such as legato, sustained, or connected, rather than using the specific French term.

Notational context and scope: The instruction is more common in descriptive or instructional material than as a frequent, explicit marking in modern scores. When present, soutenues complements other markings such as slurs, phrasing marks, or pedal indications to convey the intended line quality.

See also: legato, sustain, tenuto, phrasing, pedal.