What is "^" called?

[Rick F]

I've always referred to "^" as a "carrot symbol".

[Joe Baker]

Assuming you refer to the symbol when placed above a musical notes:

• mar·ca·to (mär-kä'tÅ

[TubaRay]

I always thought it was known as a thingamajig(or one of the alternate spellings thereof).

[bort]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melodic_accent

Consider the source, but a good starting point...

[iiipopes]

Another way to look at it: ^ = > + .
Carot equals accent plus staccato

[OldBandsman]

Our band director has us reading a learned paper on Jazz Interpretation by SgtMaj John Brye, US Army Field Band. He writes about ^ terming it "marcato (cap)". I assume 'cap' is a colloquial term. Sure is easier for director to yell directions with.

[Leland]

"Dot"

[Chuck(G)]

Circumflex.

...when used as a marcato, the meaning depends on the instrument. Bowed strings use marcato to mean that each note is played using a new stroke, rather than just continuing a stroke. Each note occupies its full time value.

...on wind instruments, a note that is customarily 2/3 of its notated duration and is started with with an accented attack.

Also, a brand of pasta machine:

http://www.marcato-omc.com/

[iiipopes]

Circumflex.

...when used as a marcato, the meaning depends on the instrument. Bowed strings use marcato to mean that each note is played using a new stroke, rather than just continuing a stroke. Each note occupies its full time value.

...on wind instruments, a note that is customarily 2/3 of its notated duration and is started with with an accented attack.

Also, a brand of pasta machine:

http://www.marcato-omc.com/

Does that go with a kitchen mandolin? Yes, cooking and music have a lot in common. And not just personally, in spite of the fact I am the musician and the cook in my family's household!

[windshieldbug]

A nose in the air, as in ;^)

[windshieldbug]

so...what is this ">" called? Accent? Macrcato? Greater Than? Go Right?

That's just a capital "." . Get real, man!

[iiipopes]

It is an accent.

[Dean E]

What the heck is it(^) called? . . . .

Marcato, I read somewhere, is used to designate an unexpectedly forceful attack sufficient to surprise the audience. However, the surprise effect is certainly lost for one or two measures of runs.

[jmh3412]

yep circumflex - in French at least

[Anterux]

In Portuguese: Acento Circunflexo.

[quinterbourne]

"^" = marcato (think of lots of tongue in the attack)
">" = accent (think of lots of air behind the attack)

[Chuck(G)]

The marcato is a strong accent, somewhat forced, and usually struck hard. It is often used as a hard impact effect resulting in a loud attack.

Your source is talking about string bowings, not wind instruments. As I noted, the notion and execution of accents are quite different with strings.

For a very good treatise see:

http://www.dolmetsch.com/musictheory21.htm#accent

[Chuck(G)]

In Jared's favor, I've noticed that (from strings to winds) interpretation and execution of markings is very inconsistent, but the names of the markings tend to be pretty consistent.

And that's the problem--Jared's illustration seems to call a normal accent a marcato and a marcato a martellato. I don't think I've ever heard anyone call a normal accent a marcato before now.

Although, Dr. Blood does state:

Martelé (Fr.); Martellato (It.); Marcato (It.) notes are played with accented force, literally “hammeredâ€