whole rest
In musical notation, a "whole rest" signifies a period of silence lasting as long as a whole note.
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🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
B2Musical Notation
(technical)A symbol indicating a silence lasting the duration of a whole note, commonly four beats in 4/4 time.
Example
- The piece begins with a whole rest, giving the musicians a moment of silence before starting.
- In 4/4 time, a whole rest occupies an entire measure.
B2Musical Notation
(technical)A solid rectangle placed below the line above the middle line of a staff, representing a silence equal to a whole note.
Example
- The whole rest is easy to identify by its position and shape on the staff.
- Make sure to observe the whole rest and pause for the full measure.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "whole rest":
half restrest onsemibreve restminim restat restsemiquaver rest