ammaccature

Ammaccature is an Italian term that can refer to two distinct phenomena: dents or deformations on metal or other surfaces, and a musical ornament known as a grace note. The word derives from the verb ammacare, meaning to dent or dent a surface, and the noun ammacatura denotes the resulting indentation. In music, ammacatura (plural ammaccature) designates a type of ornamental note played before the principal note.

In musical usage, an ammaccatura is a short, crushed grace note written as a small note with a slash through its stem. It is typically executed rapidly, before the main note, and often consumes part of the main note’s time value. The ornament serves to express a quick embellishment and is common in Baroque and Classical repertoire, though the term is sometimes used interchangeably with acciaccatura in various musical traditions. Performance practice may vary, with some editors preferring a stricter alignment to the beat and others allowing freer execution depending on stylistic conventions.

In the sense of surface defects, ammaccature refers to dents or deformations caused by impact, such as those occurring on vehicle bodies, metal sheets, or other metallic objects. The depth, width, and location of a dent influence its impact on aesthetics, corrosion risk, and structural integrity. Repair approaches range from cosmetic methods, like paintless dent repair, to more extensive bodywork for deeper or compromised areas. Prevention includes protective coatings and careful handling to minimize impact.

Overall, ammaccature identifies both ornamental micro-notes in music and physical indentations in materials, with meanings highly dependent on context. See also ammacatura/acciaccatura in music and dent/aserro terminology in material science.