fortissimo
Loudest musical direction
Fortissimo is a musical direction meaning very loud—the loudest standard dynamic marking.
It appears in sheet music as *ff*.
The term comes from Italian, the traditional language of musical notation.
The symphony builds to a fortissimo climax.
As a noun, a fortissimo is a passage played at this volume.
Extremely loud, resounding
- boomingExperiencing rapid growth
- blaringHarshly loud
- deafeningOverwhelmingly loud
- earsplittingExtremely, painfully loud
roaring · loud · resounding · sonorous · stentorian · cacophonous · piercing · bellowing
Extremely quiet, in scores
- crescendoGradual increase in loudness
- diminuendoGradual decrease in loudness
- decrescendoGradual decrease in loudness
- marcatoEmphasized, detached playing
subito · fortepiano · piano · accent · tenuto · staccato · legato · fermata
thunderous
Extremely loud, resounding
earsplitting · roaring · loud · resounding · sonorous · stentorian · cacophonous · piercing · bellowing · clamorous
pianissimo
Extremely quiet, in scores
- crescendoGradual increase in loudness
- diminuendoGradual decrease in loudness
- decrescendoGradual decrease in loudness
marcato · subito · fortepiano · piano · accent · tenuto · staccato · legato · fermata · presto
passionate
Intensely emotional or enthusiastic
dramatic · explosive · vehement · fervent · impassioned · fiery · ardent · vigorous · overwhelming · unbridled
tutti
Full ensemble passage
- brassCopper-zinc metal mixture
- timpaniTunable orchestral percussion
- percussionSound through impact
symphony · orchestra · conductor · score · horns · cymbals · trombone · trumpet · full orchestra · climax
- classical musicBach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms
- volumecubic meters, bulk, cubic feet, quantity, cubic inches
- music notationtreble clef, bass clef, clef, clefs, staff
- musical notationscore, piano, sheet music, notation, lead sheet
- musical termsadagio, andante, allegro, lento, largo
- dynamicspiano, pianissimo, pp, ff, forzando