marcato
A strong accent; notes played with emphasis. Marked with a wedge symbol.
In Depth
Marcato is the strongest standard accent marking, indicated by a wedge-shaped symbol (^) above or below the note. It means marked and calls for each note to be played with heavy emphasis — more forceful than a standard accent (>) but still with a defined pitch and musical quality.
In orchestral writing, a marcato passage commands attention — it is often used for bold, declamatory themes or powerful rhythmic figures. The marcato differs from staccato in that it is about weight and emphasis rather than shortness. A marcato note can be long or short, but it always begins with a strong, deliberate attack.
In orchestral scores, the marcato accent (^) is sometimes called a housetop or rooftop because of its pointed shape — and it demands playing that is just as sharp.