fortepiano

dynamicsFOR-tay-pee-AH-nohfrom Italian

Loud then immediately soft. Abbreviated as fp.

In Depth

Fortepiano (fp) means loud then immediately soft — a sudden dynamic contrast on a single note or chord.‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‌‌‍‍‌ The performer strikes the note with force and immediately reduces the volume, creating a striking accent followed by a quiet continuation. This effect is different from a simple accent because the note continues softly after the initial impact. It is particularly effective on instruments that can sustain notes, like strings and wind instruments. Beethoven used fortepiano frequently to create dramatic surprises, and it appears throughout Classical and Romantic orchestral writing.

Did you know?

The fortepiano effect (fp) was a favourite of Haydn's, who used it as a musical joke — setting up a loud chord that immediately collapses into a whisper, catching the audience off guard.