Tie.

In Western notation a curved line between two notes of the same pitch indicating that they form a single note with their combined values. It is used to connect notes separated by a bar-line, and first appeared thus in the Recerchari, motetti, canzoni of Marco Antonio Cavazzoni (1523 – a notable publication in many respects; see also Leger line). The tie also facilitates the notation of values that cannot be written as a single note, such as seven quavers (which may be written as minim tied to dotted crotchet) or five crotchets (which may be written as dotted minim tied to minim). Ties were used in early figured basses to show the durations of the different harmonies to be sounded over a held bass note. Bebung was indicated in clavichord music by a tie with dots below; and Beethoven’s late piano sonatas contain several examples of repeated notes joined by a tie which demand gentle reiteration, as in the Adagio of the Sonata in B op.106.

RICHARD RASTALL