Accent, Articulation, and Connecting Terms

Tonic accent

Accent by rise of pitch, rather than by stress.

Dynamic accent

Accent by stress or reinforcement.

Natural accent

Accent on the downbeat.

Secondary accent

Accent on a beat other than the downbeat, e.g., beat three in common time.

Irregular accent

Accent on a normally unaccented beat.

Agogic accent

Accent by longer duration of a note.

Sforzando/Forzando

Accent by forcing/pressure.

Rinforzando

Accent by strengthening.

Legato

Smoothly connected.

Marcato

Marked emphasis.

Staccato

Detached.

Tenuto

Held, sustained.

Portato

Slurred staccato.

Staccatissimo (wedge)

Very short and detached; equivalent to the staccato from Couperin to Beethoven.

Attacca, Attacca subito, and Segue

Two movements should be connected with no break, the one following immediately after the other.