costringendo

Costringendo is a musical term of Italian origin used as an expressive marking in score to indicate that a passage should be performed with increasing force and urgency, often accompanied by a more insistent tempo or attack. The word derives from costringere, to force, with the gerund form costringendo conveying a forcing, pressing character.

In practice, costringendo conveys a sense of forward momentum that is intended to feel forced or compelled, sometimes near a climactic moment. It is related to, but distinct from, other tempo and dynamic indications such as accelerando, stringendo, or crescendo. While accelerando and crescendi focus on changes in speed or volume, costringendo emphasizes a pressing, relentless quality of expression—often used to intensify drama or urgency in a passage.

Usage and notation vary by composer and era. It appears most frequently in Romantic and modern scores, where composers seek a heightened emotional effect. It may appear as a standalone instruction or in combination with other marks (for example, alongside più mosso or subito cresc.) as the music approaches a peak. Because it is an expressive marking rather than a precise metronome directive, performers interpret the degree of force and speed increase in relation to the surrounding music and dynamics.

Etymology and history: costringendo comes from Italian, reflecting the tradition of Italian terms in musical notation. It is less common today than more standard directions like stringendo or accelerando, but remains a recognized option for conveying a specific, forceful intensity.

See also: stringendo, crescendo, accelerando.