Con rabbia

As Printed on a Score

Printed beside a loud dynamic, often ff with accents, at a violent outburst. It colours the passage until the next character direction and has no formal cancellation.

How Composers Use It

Con rabbia asks for rage: the most violent of the anger words, implying explosive attack and a deliberately rough sound. It is stronger than con ira and less controlled than feroce. It can license harshness — heavy bow pressure, hammered attacks — but name those techniques as well, since rage can be played in many ways. Reserve it for the climax it describes.

Related Terms