marcato

[ mahr-kah-toh; Italian mahr-kah-taw ]

adjective

1. (of notes or chords in a musical score) strongly accented.

marcato

/ mɑːˈkɑːtəʊ /

adjective

1. (of notes) heavily accented

adverb

1. with each note heavily accented

Word History and Origins

Origin of marcato¹

1830–40; < Italian: marked

Word History and Origins

Origin of marcato¹

C19: from Italian: marked

Example Sentences

Notes marked marcato have enough of an accent and/or enough space between them to make each note seem stressed or set apart.

From Literature

But in this scene, as throughout the opera, Britten scatters spiky marcato and staccato articulation.

From New York Times

For example, most ballads are sung legato, and most marches are played fairly staccato or marcato, whether they are marked that way or not.

From Literature