sforzando

American  

[sfawrt-sahn-doh, sfawr-tsahn-daw] / sfɔrtˈsɑn doʊ, sfɔrˈtsɑn dɔ /

adjective

Music.

1. with force; emphatically.

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sforzando British  

/ sfɔːˈtsɑːndəʊ, sfɔːˈtsɑːtəʊ /

adjective

1.  sf.  to be played with strong initial attack

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noun

1. a symbol, mark, etc, such as >, written above a note, indicating this

Etymology

Origin of sforzando

1795–1805; < Italian, gerund of sforzare to show strength < Vulgar Latin *exfortiāre; see effort

Explanation

A note or chord that is played sforzando can have a surprise effect on the listener, because it is played with a sudden, strong accent, louder than the notes or chords around it. Sforzando is actually a contraction of subito forzando, meaning "suddenly forceful" in Italian. It can be used as an adverb, adjective, or noun, and is usually represented by the symbol sfz in sheet music. The sound of a sforzando note or chord can be similar to one played marcato, as both will stand out from the surrounding notes. However, a marcato note is usually short, while a sforzando note must be held for its full length even though the loudness quickly fades.

Example Sentences

And “Hoe-Down” ends with three emphatic sforzando notes that flow without a pause in Peck’s dance into three soft ones, in a logical key change, at the start of “Appalachian Spring.”

From New York Times • Jan. 24, 2023

The heroic opening heralded a propulsive interpretation, guided by hemiola rhythms but emphasized in mighty sforzando accents and thrillingly veering dynamics.

From New York Times • Mar. 18, 2022

And it took on a wild edge in the Scherzo, when the string players ripped out sforzando accents with the cheery violence of a convoy of bikers revving their engines.

From New York Times • Jul. 24, 2018

Here now the orchestra is well into it; here is that sforzando where the flutes blew out a gasket last Saturday night�they have taken it at 45 miles an hour and without a quiver.

From Time Magazine Archive

Figure 1.83: The performance of an accent depends on the style of music, but in general, sforzando and fortepiano accents involve a loud beginning to a longer note.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones