Long fermata (square)
A long fermata, drawn with a square top, asks for substantially more extra duration than a normal fermata. It suggests a relative hold rather than an exact multiplier, so the musical context still controls the result.
One part of this explanation rests on a single source and is still being checked.
- Holds and pauses
- Above the note
- A bracket or square, A dot
Do not confuse it with
The long fermata has a square top; the normal one is curved and the short one is angled.
What the sources say
- Dorico Pro — Types of fermatas
Long fermata — Indicates that a note is held quite a lot longer than the rhythm indicates.
- SMuFL — Holds and pauses
fermataLongAbove — Long fermata above
- LilyPond Notation Reference — Fermata scripts
\veryshortfermata | \shortfermata | \fermata | \longfermata