Also means
a sustained note held in the bass while harmonies change above it
Usage Note
Orgelpunkt (named after organ bass-pedal technique) creates a feeling of suspension or inevitability. A dominant Orgelpunkt before the recapitulation in sonata form builds intense expectation.
Examples
"Der lange Orgelpunkt auf der Dominante spannte den Bogen zur Reprise."
Natural Translation
The long pedal point on the dominant spanned the arch to the recapitulation.
Literal Translation
The long organ-point on the dominant spanned the arch to the reprise.
Free starter pack
Building your German vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common German words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore German by topic
