fp

Forte-piano (fp) is a dynamic marking that combines two contrasting instructions: play the note loud (forte), then immediately drop to soft (piano). The result is a sudden, dramatic accent that quickly recedes, creating a punchy attack followed by a quiet sustain. The effect is widely used in Classical-period music, where sudden dynamic contrasts were a hallmark of the style. Haydn and Beethoven used fp extensively to surprise listeners and add drama to their compositions. The marking requires precise control — the transition from loud to soft must be immediate, not gradual.