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Sforzando

 

Sforzando (in music, Italian): played with a prominent stress or accent- used as a direction in music

“I am not the languid legato-

Played swiftly and in ballet-like grace-

I am not the crisp, aloof staccato-

The tangent cut against the circle of a tune,

Sharp, patent, chivvying the other notes

To be bolder- I am not the stern tenuto-

Making appearances at the end of musical phrases-

I am not the wistful tremolo- nor the bristling trill-

Each blending into the magic of the tune

With unparalleled subtlety- innocuous, smooth,

Blending into every fiber with poise…

I may be an outsider; who would say that I belong-

An outsider, imposter, traitor, and rebel- yes, I am

All of these things- I arrive with a bang

Depart with a smash- I hoodwink you

I play you… you may call me vindictive,

Un-abiding and a transgressor.

I don’t conform, I don’t submit,

I exist, I am, I shine, I disregard

The other entities that precede,

And follow me- my fellow musical notes-

I am confident, in and of myself,

Yet, I am precise, perseverant and augment

An otherwise slightly plaintive piece…

I can be still, provocative, joyous,

Trepid, torturous, at will-

I am strong- by disposition-

I can be who I am, and add value

In my unique beauty- I can leave

Audiences gaping, adults stunned,

Children beaming and inspired.

I am, proudly, only, and only,

Sforzando."


The poet and music-lover's note: I understand that this poem has a lot of musical words (all of which are Italian words) in it. In this poem, I seek to use the allegory of the 'sforzando' in sheet music to represent the concept of 'standing out, rather than fitting in'. In a world that often seeks to churn out herds of people, I think we must all take note, that the driving force for all of us, are the qualities that set each of us apart- the unique story that every one of us has to tell.

Meanings of Musical Words:

legato: smooth and flowing in manner, without breaks between notes.

staccato: with each note sharply detached or separated from the others.

tenuto: (of a note or chord) held for its full time value or slightly more.

trill: a rapid alternation of sung or played notes.

tremolo: a wavering effect in a musical tone, produced either by rapid reiteration of a note, by rapid repeated slight variation in the pitch of a note, or by sounding two notes of slightly different pitches to produce prominent overtones.

And finally...

sforzando:  played with a prominent stress or accent- used as a direction in music


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