mordent explained
A rapid alternation between a note, the note below it, and a return to the original note
In Depth
The lower mordent consists of three notes: the main note, the note below, and the main note again, performed very quickly. An upper mordent (or inverted mordent) alternates with the note above. The mordent adds a brief flash of rhythmic and melodic energy. In Baroque notation, the mordent was indicated by a specific squiggle symbol. Modern usage of the terms mordent and inverted mordent varies between national traditions, creating frequent confusion about which direction is meant.
The terminological confusion between mordent and inverted mordent is so persistent that many editors now specify the direction explicitly in performance notes.