Here is the gesture corresponding to zaqef gadol ("large rising"), as reconstructed by me. It represents an appogiatura of a major or minor second downward from the sustained degree, followed by another appogiatura of a major or minor second downward. The gesture then returns to the rest position. As with pazer qaton, the vertical line (according to Haïk-Vantoura) represents a downward motion. It therefore represents a deeper hand movement (and therefore a deeper melodic descent) than is characteristic of zaqef qaton.

Though the gesture behind zaqef gadol and the melodic motif it represents both descend, the melodic effect is to make the word "stand out" from its context (even more than does zaqef qaton) -- hence the name.

Updated December 27, 2011