sforzando
1
9.9
A sudden strong emphasis on a note or chord
- noun
- /sfɔrˈtsɑndoʊ/
- Specialized
:
sforzando
- During the performance, she highlighted the dramatic moment with a sudden sforzando that captivated the audience.
Examples
-
The conductor instructed the orchestra to play a strong sforzando at the climax of the symphony.
-
The concept could be slurring, accents, marcato style, sforzandos, or other effects.
Academic text (2007) -
In this piece, the sforzando adds emphasis to the emotional impact of the music.
Synonyms
9.2
To play with strong, clear emphasis
has a sudden very strong emphasis rather than a marked accent
Antonyms
How Emphatic
fortissimo
1
8.3
- Specialized
1
8.3
sforzando
1
9.9
- Specialized
1
9.9
forte
1
7.7
- Specialized
1
7.7
mezzo
2
7.5
- Specialized
2
7.5
piano
1
3.1
- Specialized
1
3.1
Surface Forms
sforzando singular
sforzandos plural
Etymology
Sforzando comes from the Italian sforzare meaning 'to force' and forza meaning 'force', and it is like the English word force. So a sforzando tells the player to give a note a sudden, strong 'emphasis'.