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Fortepiano

Loud then immediately soft; a sudden dynamic contrast on a single note.

Category
dynamics
Pronunciation
FOR-teh-PYAH-noh
Origin

Italian

Length
90 words · 1 min read

About Fortepiano

Fortepiano, abbreviated "fp," combines forte and piano in quick succession: the note is attacked strongly and immediately drops to a soft dynamic. It creates a dramatic accent effect and is distinct from sforzando, which implies a sharper attack.
v1 · 09/04/2026Browse all terms →