• Ornamentation started to be used midway through the 15^th century, but didn’t become more popularized until the 1580s-90s.
• Our modern day ornaments are patterned after J.S Bach’s Explication.
• Not many people were against the method because in that era they really cared more about variety than structural clarity.
• In many instances, if not all, ornaments bring a song more to life. They also help connect and emphasize notes. This is another reason people weren’t too skeptical.
• The use of ornamentation gives the song a more elaborate/full sound, and by using this method, performers could show off their technical skill.
• Ornamentation is often used to help interpret the character of a piece.
• If you leave out the embellishments it can make a song sound very “blah”-especially with the songs meant to have much added to it.
• Some instruments are limited to what type of ornamentation they can do.
• Because of how frequently this was used, many patterns/variations developed over time.
• All trills begin on beat. All trills begin on the upper auxiliary note.
• Ornamentation includes things such as: turns, trills, grace notes, mordents, and appoggiaturas
• Trills: To create dissonance proceeded by the resolution.
• Mordents: Add rhythmic accents and brilliance.
• Appogiaturas: Take half the value of the main note. (Not a definition, but how they’re played.)
• Turn: To convey a fleeting touch of expressive dissonance.

Here is a table that shows all the different types of common ornamentation and how they’re played:

Resources: http://www.dolmetsch.com/musictheory23.htm / Ornamentation-A Question/Answer Manual by: Valery Lloyd-Watts & Carole L. Bigler
Picture: http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/henry/music/bachnotation.htm