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Glite Dictionary
sforzando

sforzando

1 9.9
A sudden strong emphasis on a note or chord
  • noun
  • /sfɔrˈtsɑndoʊ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : 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

marcato
vssforzando
  • Specialized
9.2

To play with strong, clear emphasis

has a sudden very strong emphasis rather than a marked accent

Antonyms

piano
  • Specialized
24 3.1

A direction in music to play softly

How Emphatic

fortissimo
  • Specialized
8.3
sforzando
  • Specialized
1 9.9
forte
  • Specialized
7.7
mezzo
  • Specialized
1 7.5
piano
  • Specialized
24 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'.