fortissimo
pronunciation
How to pronounce fortissimo in British English:
UK [fɔ:ˈtɪsɪməʊ]
How to pronounce fortissimo in American English:
US [fɔrˈtɪsɪmoʊ]
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- Noun:
- (music) with great loudness
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- Adjective:
- chiefly a direction or description in music
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- Adverb:
- a direction in music; to be played very loudly
Word Origin
- fortissimo (adj.)
- 1724, from Italian fortissimo, superlative of forte "loud, strong," from Latin fortis "strong" (see fort).
Example
- 1. The band continued playing fortissimo .
- 2. A second fortissimo phase follows , similar to the first , but shortened and possibly less significant .
- 3. For several bars the volume draws back , then erupts into a powerfully sad fortissimo with heavy , dissonant chords in the piano part .
- 4. The decrease and following return of tension do not work the same way as they have done previously , the music appears to be steering towards another sudden fortissimo but then becomes stuck in repeated , strident discords between brass and piano .
- 5. Graduate the volume from pianissimo to fortissimo .