Con forza

As Printed on a Score

Printed above or below the staff at the start of the passage, often beside a dynamic letter (ff con forza). It colours the passage until the music changes character — a dim., a softer dynamic or a new expressive word ends it.

How Composers Use It

Adds force of attack and intention to a dynamic rather than replacing it. Chopin places it at the peak of a nocturne phrase, where the music must break through its lyrical surface; the word tells the pianist the outburst is meant, not merely loud. Pair it with the dynamic you want, and avoid it where the music is already as heavy as it can be.

Example

Chopin, Nocturne in B-flat minor, Op. 9 No. 1, m. 18: “con forza” at ff, two bars after “appassionato”, before “smorz.” and “sotto voce” bring the passage down.

Related Terms