Meno forte

As Printed on a Score

Printed below the staff as words, usually at the start of a new phrase or section. It is relative — less loud than what came before — and lasts until the next dynamic marking.

How Composers Use It

Meno forte steps the level down while keeping forte’s character: still full-toned, but less weighty. It is useful after a climax, where the music should stay strong but no longer at its peak, or for a second, lighter statement of a forceful idea. Because it is relative and uncommon, many composers simply write mf; choose meno forte when the player should think of the passage as a reduced forte rather than a middle level.

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