plica  Various plicas (left) with literal and modern equivalents (right). | An ornamental passing note indicated in medieval notation by a vertical stroke at the side of the note. Its length was determined by the length of the stroke, its pitch by the context. According to theorists, the plica should be sung with a kind of quavering in the throat, but its convenience as an abbreviation led to its frequent employment as a substitute for a written note. |
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