by 
The Curious Bag
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Legato is a musical term, in its most common use. It is a musical articulation, which is a direction, sign or performance style that indicates the transition between notes and sounds.
Origin
The word legato is Italian and translates as to bind or tie something together, according to FreeDictionary.com.
Function
Legato provides the instruction that the musicians are to play the notes on a specified composition without noticeable silence between them.
Opposite
The opposite of legato is "staccato." Music that is staccato has space between the notes, creating a noticeable pause.
Significance
Playing music legato provides a smooth, even feel to the composition. One might compare music in legato to floating, while music in staccato is like jumping.
Notation
Musicians assume that a piece of music is legato, unless otherwise specified. For example, a legato section of music simply shows the notes, while a staccato section of music has a dot above or underneath each note head.
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