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Marked, accented, emphasized. Marked with an accent (>) or caret (^) above or below the notehead.
Marcato means each note should be strongly accented and clearly projected. It is stronger than a simple accent. Use it for theme statements that need to cut through thick textures, or for rhythmic passages that must be absolutely clear.
Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, first movement — the famous four-note motif is marcato, each note hammered with maximum clarity.
Marcato is one of 228 terms in the Gradus musical dictionary, where every definition is written around how composers actually use the word.
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