Fortissimo

As Printed on a Score

Printed below the staff as ff, rarely as the word except inside phrases such as sempre fortissimo. It holds until the next dynamic. In an orchestral score it is marked in each part separately, so a reader should not assume it carries over to a part where it is not printed; fff and further letters mark the extremes.

Abbreviations: ff

How Composers Use It

Fortissimo is where the full orchestra unleashes its power. At ff, ensure every part contributes to the overall sound — doubled melodies, filled harmonies, rhythmic unison. Be careful with percussion at ff; timpani and cymbals can overwhelm everything else if not balanced.

Example

Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, finale — the ff restatement of the fate motif with full orchestra, cymbals, and timpani is overwhelming.

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