Marcato

The instruction may involve the word marcato itself written above or below the staff or it may take the form of the symbol ∧,[1][2][3] an open vertical wedge.

The marcato is essentially a louder and often shorter version of the regular accent > (an open horizontal wedge).

Like the regular accent, however, the marcato is often interpreted to suggest a sharp attack tapering to the original dynamic,[4] an interpretation which applies only to instruments capable of altering the dynamic level of a single sustained pitch.

"[5] In jazz big-band scores, the marcato symbol usually indicates a note is to be shortened to approximately 2⁄3 its normal duration, and given a moderate accent.

[citation needed] The instruction marcato or marcatissimo[6] (extreme marcato), among various other instructions, symbols, and expression marks may prompt a string player to use martelé bowing, depending on the musical context.