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; effort

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

A furious backhand indicates a sforzando attack; a hand moving slowly across his mouth implores the players to give him a soft sound.

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