Marcato

Stronger than the accent

On the page Notation symbols the marcato is described like this: a pointed roof-shaped sign above or below the note head, the note is played stressed and accented. It is stronger than an ordinary accent, such as “f on a p passage”. With winds an additional tongue stroke often comes in, with strings pressure in the bow. The name means “marked, stressed”. According to the page it is often found in festive, powerful passages, in marches and in Verdi's operas.

The sign for the accent and the word “marcato” are easy to compare: the accent lifts a note, the marcato marks it. Both belong to articulation.

Marcato in the score

Piano

• In der Halle des Bergkönigs Edvard Grieg, op. 46 No. 4 · piano · from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1

  “Alla marcia molto marcato” with ♩ = 138, 4/4, two sharps. The eighth-note figure carries staccato dots and accents, with “e sempre staccato” beside it.

Voice and piano

• Ich lade gern mir Gäste ein Aria from Die Fledermaus · voice and piano, with chords for guitar

  “Allegro non troppo”, crossed-out C (alla breve), five flats in the key signature. At the piano entry “marcato” is written above the chords, with p and staccato dots.

In Grieg the word is part of the tempo marking, it describes the character of the whole movement. In the Fledermaus aria it is a performance marking in the piano part.

Common mistakes

• Equating marcato with accent: The roof is stronger than the sideways angle.
• Playing all notes equally hard: Marcato marks single notes, not the whole movement.
• Confusing staccato and marcato: The dot shortens, the roof stresses.