fortepiano
1 of 2noun
for·te·pia·no ˌfȯr-ˌtā-pē-ˈa-(ˌ)nō 
also
-ˈä-(ˌ)nō : an early form of the piano originating in the 18th and early 19th centuries and having a smaller range and softer timbre than a modern piano
forte-piano
2 of 2adverb or adjective
for·te-pi·a·no ˌfȯr-ˌtā-pē-ˈä-(ˌ)nō
ˌfȯr-tē-
: loud then immediately soft —used as a direction in music
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
oregonlive, 30 June 2021 In both the latter two pieces, Richman, usually seen here as a harpsichordist, proved no less nimble at the fortepiano (as early pianos are called these days). Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 16 Nov. 2020 The Bach Society is also offering chamber music concerts at the Aldredge House on Swiss Avenue, including a Nov. 14 program of early Beethoven works, with Richman playing a replica of a 1785 fortepiano. Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 30 Oct. 2020 Belle Bulwinkle, fortepiano; Cynthia K. Black, violin; David Morris, cello. Chronicle Staff Report, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 May 2018 András Schiff has recorded revelatory Schubert on the fortepiano; Carolin Widmann and Dénes Várjon made a ferociously potent disk of the Schumann violin sonatas. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2019 Find more information and book tickets at www.velocityartssf.com 8 Get your Beethoven fixA 19th-century Viennese fortepiano, first-edition sonatas — and even a lock of the great master’s hair? Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 29 July 2019 Tao did, however, take advantage of the modern piano’s wider dynamic range than the fortepiano that Mozart used, at times surging out in an almost demonic fashion. Ken Jacques, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2019 Meglioranza will perform the song cycle Feb. 18 accompanied by David Breitman on a model of an 1819-era fortepiano at the Byron Colby Barn in Grayslake. Sheryl Devore, Lake County News-Sun, 7 Feb. 2018 See More
Noun
The concert is performed by eight PBO musicians and features a replica of Mozart’s own fortepiano. oregonlive, 30 June 2021 In both the latter two pieces, Richman, usually seen here as a harpsichordist, proved no less nimble at the fortepiano (as early pianos are called these days). Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 16 Nov. 2020 The Bach Society is also offering chamber music concerts at the Aldredge House on Swiss Avenue, including a Nov. 14 program of early Beethoven works, with Richman playing a replica of a 1785 fortepiano. Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 30 Oct. 2020 Belle Bulwinkle, fortepiano; Cynthia K. Black, violin; David Morris, cello. Chronicle Staff Report, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 May 2018 András Schiff has recorded revelatory Schubert on the fortepiano; Carolin Widmann and Dénes Várjon made a ferociously potent disk of the Schumann violin sonatas. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2019 Find more information and book tickets at www.velocityartssf.com 8 Get your Beethoven fixA 19th-century Viennese fortepiano, first-edition sonatas — and even a lock of the great master’s hair? Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 29 July 2019 Tao did, however, take advantage of the modern piano’s wider dynamic range than the fortepiano that Mozart used, at times surging out in an almost demonic fashion. Ken Jacques, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2019 Meglioranza will perform the song cycle Feb. 18 accompanied by David Breitman on a model of an 1819-era fortepiano at the Byron Colby Barn in Grayslake. Sheryl Devore, Lake County News-Sun, 7 Feb. 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
French or Italian; French, from Italian, from forte loud + piano soft
First Known Use
Noun
1771, in the meaning defined above
Adverb Or Adjective
1823, in the meaning defined above
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