1. Home
  2. Hobbies & Games
  3. Piano

(fp) fortepiano

By Brandy Kraemer, About.com

Definition: Fortepiano is:
  1. An indication to play loudly in forte, followed immediately by piano. Fortepiano is marked on sheet music as fp.

    See sforzando.

  2. The earliest version of the modern piano was called the fortepiano, or piano forte.
Pronunciation: for'-tay-piano
Also Known As: fort suivi de doux (Fr), fort-doux (Fr)
Alternate Spellings: 2. Piano-forte, forte piano
Common Misspellings: 1. Forte-piano
Explore Piano
About.com Special Features

Use these ideas to inspire your own uniquely beautiful pages. More >

Find out how much your treasured collection is worth. More >

  1. Home
  2. Hobbies & Games
  3. Piano
  4. Glossary of Musical Terms
  5. Musical Terms - F
  6. Fortepiano (fp) - Italian Musical Terms - Meaning of Fortepiano

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.