Forte (fencing) Forte (fencing) In fencing, forte (from the Romance root meaning "strong") is "the strong part" of the blade—the one third-closest to the hilt. The "strength" refers to the control established over the opponent's weapon upon contact of one's forte with the opponent's foible (a situation of favourable leverage). (See also parry (fencing).) Fencer Ridolfo Capo Ferro defined the forte as the blade from the hilt to the middle. From the middle to the top is known as the debole. The debole is the part of the sword, especially a rapier, that is used for offensive actions. Italian fencing master Ridolfo
Allen Forte five installments of "", between 2009 and 2013. It was edited by Forte's former student David Carson Berry (FA72) and was titled "A Music-Theoretical Matrix: Essays in Honor of Allen Forte" (a title derived from Forte's 1961 monograph, "A Compositional Matrix"). It included twenty-two articles by Forte's former doctoral advisees, and three special features: a previously unpublished article by Forte, on Gershwin songs; a collection of tributes and reminiscences from forty-two of his former advisees; and an annotated register of his publications and advisees. Forte was married to the French-born pianist Madeleine (Hsu) Forte, emerita professor of piano at Boise