Difference in sound between ^ and >

[psaiko]

What is the exact difference in sound between notes marked with ^ and >

and how does one acquire these sounds from a technical point of view?

[discturtle]

In Brahm's music when you see the ^, most people I've talked to agree that it's a stacatto and accent, although punchier or sharper than a >. Apparently he had sloppy handwriting and when the scores were modernized, there was no consensus as to what the ^ meant exactly. At least, that's what my teacher told me. However, in a Brahms Klavier Trio that I played, there were a few of the ^s that I thought sounded out of place when played stacatto, so I just punched them.

[instromp]

I myself just learned what ^ meant at marching band practice the other day.It's suppose to be louder than a regular accent >. Like discturtle said its also a staccato, i don't think it is one, because in that case i think Chopin would have used it in the last 4 chords in his revolutionary etude. I think ^ is just a stronger accent...but i can be wrong too until someone else comes around with a better answer like good ol' Bernhard 

[Bob]

^ is marcato.  Tight, separated, hard attack, "tent" accent.  "Dit"  You might close the end of the note.

> is a fatter, broader accent. "Dah"  It might go along with a rall or rit with the broadening.  There might be space between the notes but the end doesn't have to be "closed."  You could think of the "accent" being in the middle of the note.

[psaiko]

^ is marcato.  Tight, separated, hard attack, "tent" accent.  "Dit"  You might close the end of the note.

> is a fatter, broader accent. "Dah"  It might go along with a rall or rit with the broadening.  There might be space between the notes but the end doesn't have to be "closed."  You could think of the "accent" being in the middle of the note.

thank you

[kriskicksass]

In what context did you see these markings? As each composer has his own usage of the individual markings, asking their meaning without context is pointless.

[psaiko]

In what context did you see these markings? As each composer has his own usage of the individual markings, asking their meaning without context is pointless.

Chopin's 1st ballade