diminuendo
Gradual volume decrease
Diminuendo is a musical term for a gradual decrease in volume—the opposite of crescendo.
As a direction in sheet music, it tells performers to get progressively softer.
The word extends to any gradual fading or tapering off: The argument ended in a diminuendo of muttered complaints.
Also used as a noun for a passage played this way.
Extremely quiet, in scores
- decrescendoGradual decrease in loudness
- pianoKeyed percussion instrument
- fortepianoEarly hammer-action keyboard
- crescendoGradual increase in loudness
pp · morendo · sotto voce
Gradually decreasing in intensity
- ebbingGradually declining or receding
- recedingMoving away from observer
- taperingProgressive decrease in width
- subsidingDecreasing in intensity
dwindling · dying away · softening · quieting · hushing · trailing off · melting away · dissolving
Gradual tempo reduction
- ritardandoGradual tempo decrease
- adagioSlow musical tempo
- andanteWalking-pace tempo marking
- largoVery slow tempo
legato · staccato · fermata · coda · attacca · accelerando · portamento · marcato
Calm and untroubled
- sereneUntroubled and composed
- peacefulFree from disturbance
- soothingReducing distress or discomfort
- gentleSoft and kind
subdued · restful · meditative · contemplative · wistful · melancholic · tender · intimate
pianissimo
Extremely quiet, in scores
- decrescendoGradual decrease in loudness
- pianoKeyed percussion instrument
- fortepianoEarly hammer-action keyboard
crescendo · pp · morendo · sotto voce
waning
Gradually decreasing in intensity
- ebbingGradually declining or receding
- recedingMoving away from observer
- taperingProgressive decrease in width
subsiding · dwindling · dying away · softening · quieting · hushing · trailing off · melting away · dissolving · evanescent
rallentando
Gradual tempo reduction
- ritardandoGradual tempo decrease
- adagioSlow musical tempo
- andanteWalking-pace tempo marking
largo · legato · staccato · fermata · coda · attacca · accelerando · portamento · marcato · rubato
tranquil
Calm and untroubled
gentle · subdued · restful · meditative · contemplative · wistful · melancholic · tender · intimate · hushed
- musicmusic, song, songs, singing, singer
- classical musicBach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms
- singing termsduet, aria, hum, alto, soprano
- volumecubic meters, bulk, cubic feet, quantity, cubic inches
- classical music termspiano concerto, violin concerto, concerto, sonata, tone poem
- music notationtreble clef, bass clef, clef, clefs, staff
diminuendocrescendo
Gradual increase in loudness
getting louder · swelling · building · increasing · crescendoing
diminuendofortissimo
Very loud, musically
forte · fortepiano · loud · thunderous · booming