What does marcato indicate in musical notation?

• A. Soft and smooth
• B. Fast and light
• C. Marked; with extreme emphasis
• D. Return to original tempo

Answer: (C)

Marcato means give the note a strong, pronounced attack. The marcato mark looks like a small inverted caret over or under the note, signaling you should emphasize it more than the surrounding notes. It’s stronger than a regular accent, often with a slightly heavier, more deliberate feel to make that note stand out in the phrase. It can also carry a bit of separation, rather than a fully smooth legato. The other descriptions describe soft and smooth, or fast and light, or returning to tempo, none of which convey the explicit emphasis marcato requires.