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A sudden, strong accent on a single note or chord. Abbreviated sfz or sf.
Sforzando is a momentary explosion of volume on one note, immediately returning to the prevailing dynamic. Use it for rhythmic displacement, surprise accents, dramatic punctuation. It is especially powerful when placed on weak beats or in otherwise quiet passages.
Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony, first movement — sforzando accents on weak beats displace the barline, creating the movement's characteristic rhythmic instability.
Sforzando 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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