Fließend (flowing)
Execution in which the notes follow each other unforcedly without noticeable breaks in key or rhythm.
What it means
“Fließend” is a German performance direction meaning “flowing.” It asks for an execution in which the notes follow each other unforcedly without noticeable breaks in key or rhythm: music that streams along without stalling or pressing.
Musical use
The marking is found above all in works of the Romantic and late Romantic periods with German performance markings. It can refer to a melodic line, an accompaniment figure, or a whole movement and fixes no set tempo but a character: even motion, soft transitions, and a natural breath. The Italian counterpart is “scorrevole.”
“Fließend” should be distinguished from legato, which denotes only the joining of the notes, and from “ruhig” or “gehend,” which describe the tempo rather than the evenness of motion. Flowing can also apply to unslurred notes as long as the motion seems unbroken.
Performance practice
When playing flowing, avoid abrupt accents and hesitations; think in long arcs and let position and string changes go unheard. Listen to yourself for whether a phrase runs without a break to the target note, and plan breaths or bow changes so they do not interrupt the flow.