(It.: ‘strengthening’, ‘reinforcing’; gerund of rinforzare).
A dynamic and expression mark, sometimes abbreviated as R, rinf., rf or rfz. It implies a more sudden increase in volume than crescendo, and is often applied only to a short phrase or group of notes. In the 18th century, and particularly in the work of the Mannheim composers, it was used for a very short crescendo; and occasionally it was applied to a single note demanding an accent less extreme than is required by sforzando or sforzato. But consistency of usage is not easy to find: in the Meistersinger prelude Wagner has a rinforzando stretching over two bars.
See also Tempo and expression marks.
DAVID FALLOWS