Accent, Articulation, and Connecting Terms

Accent Terms

Definition

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

Articulation Terms

Definition

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