The term mordent (indicated by the sign 4i) is taken from the French word mordre meaning to bite. It was applied probably because the ornament is really a part of the trill. It consists usually of three tones: first, the one represented by the printed note; second, the one below it; and third, the printed note or tone of departure. In the inverted mordent (indicated by the sign the note above a printed one is sung rather than the one below. A double or long mordent has five or seven tones instead of three. In all cases, the embellishment should be quickly sung with the chief note carrying the accent.

The trill ( ar— ) is a rapid alternation of two notes to the full value of the printed one. A perfect trill closes with a turn. Although you may not encounter the trill often in the songs you sing nor possibly may not be able to perform it as quickly and perfectly as it should be, yet you should know what it is and through practicing it realize to some degree the finely attuned mechanism it takes to sing it well.