pianissimos
Softest musical passages
Pianissimos is the plural of pianissimo, a musical direction meaning very soft—softer than piano.
From Italian, it marks passages to be played at the quietest dynamic level.
As a noun, it refers to such passages themselves: The symphony's pianissimos were barely audible above the audience's breathing.
Yielding to gentle pressure
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
- subtletyFine distinction, easily missed
- hushAbsence of sound
gentleness · quietude · murmur · tenderness · diminuendo · decrescendo · fading · dying away
Perceiving through physical contact
- controlAuthority to direct
- restraintControl over impulses
- breath controlManaging exhalation deliberately
- fingertipTerminal phalanx pad
technique · expression · interpretation · sensitivity · nuance · phrasing · articulation · tone color
Brief period of time
- sectionDistinct divided part
- phraseWords forming partial meaning
- movementChange in position
- codaClosing musical passage
introduction · transition · climax · contrast · tension · release · dramatic effect · emotional depth
Numerical standing in competition
- markingIndicating with symbols
- instructionGuidance for action
- symbolRepresentational mark or sign
- sheet musicPublished performance notation
annotation · tempo marking · written music · manuscript · urtext · crescendo · fortissimo · accent
softness
Yielding to gentle pressure
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
- subtletyFine distinction, easily missed
hush · gentleness · quietude · murmur · tenderness · diminuendo · decrescendo · fading · dying away · sotto voce
touch
Perceiving through physical contact
- controlAuthority to direct
- restraintControl over impulses
- breath controlManaging exhalation deliberately
fingertip · technique · expression · interpretation · sensitivity · nuance · phrasing · articulation · tone color · chamber music
moment
Brief period of time
coda · introduction · transition · climax · contrast · tension · release · dramatic effect · emotional depth · stillness
score
Numerical standing in competition
- markingIndicating with symbols
- instructionGuidance for action
- symbolRepresentational mark or sign
sheet music · annotation · tempo marking · written music · manuscript · urtext · crescendo · fortissimo · accent · staccato
pianissimosfortissimos
Loudest musical passages
fortissimo · forte · ff · thunderous · blaring