Il più forte possibile

As Printed on a Score

Printed as words at the climax it governs, usually beside ff or fff and other directions (appassionato, largamente). Shortened forms include più forte possibile and forte possibile. It lasts until a new dynamic or a change of section.

Also spelled: il piu forte possibile, più forte possibile, forte possibile

How Composers Use It

This is an appeal to effort more than a level: nothing should be held in reserve. It appears at the summits of virtuoso piano pieces, and orchestral composers use it to push beyond fff. Write it once, at a single point of arrival; written twice in a piece it loses its force. On a single instrument it can coarsen the tone, which may be exactly what you want.

Example

Chopin, Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23, m. 206: “il più forte possibile”, beside “appassionato”, two bars before the “Presto con fuoco” coda.

Related Terms