mezzo forte

American  

[met-soh fawr-tey] / ˈmɛt soʊ ˈfɔr teɪ /

adverb

Music.

1. somewhat softer than forte but louder than piano; moderately loud.

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Etymology

Origin of mezzo forte

1805–15; < Italian: literally, half loud

Example Sentences

That would have left room for any soloist, but Chen rarely dipped below mezzo forte in volume, his force evident in the many bow hairs he broke during the performance.

From New York Times • Feb. 25, 2022

And I said, ‘But, you know ...‘ And he said: ‘No buts. You end with mezzo forte, you’re basically telling the audience, the heck with you. You’re not bringing them somewhere by doing that.’

From New York Times • Aug. 6, 2015

Mr. Gandolfi remembered that Bernstein had taken him to task for ending his piece mezzo forte, or moderately loud.

From New York Times • Aug. 6, 2015

Moderate, mezzo forte crescendo, basses and then tenors intoned the first portentous words: "Who must file."

From Time Magazine Archive

If the wood winds sound ragged, he stops the players, explains to the culprit that he has been playing piano instead of mezzo forte, achieves on the next try a precise, organlike tone.

From Time Magazine Archive