To play or perform a musical instrument (especially strings or keyboards); to produce music.
彼女はヴァイオリンを柔らかく奏でる。
She plays the violin softly.
夜の庭で風鈴が涼しげな音を奏でていた。
In the garden at night, the wind chimes were producing a refreshing sound.
ピアノを奏でながら歌を口ずさむ。
I hum a song while playing the piano.
An archaic/obsolete meaning: to dance. Rarely used in modern Japanese.
古い詩では花の下で人々が舞を奏でると表現されることがある。
In old poems, people are sometimes described as 'performing dances' under the flowers.