Marcatissimo

As Printed on a Score

Printed above or below the staff at the passage it governs, often beside a loud dynamic and sometimes over notes that already carry accents, as a reinforcement. It lasts until a new articulation word or a change of dynamic and texture.

How Composers Use It

The strongest of the marcato family: every note given maximum stress and separation. It suits brass and percussive textures at climaxes, and heavy piano chords. Heavily marked playing is tiring and loud, so reserve it for short passages, and check that the stresses fall where the rhythm needs them — marcatissimo on every note can flatten the metre.

Example

Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 6 in B minor (“Pathétique”), first movement, trumpets 1 and 2, m. 190: “marcatissimo” beside an fff.

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