Part 11 (1/2)

_Pianissimo possibile_--as softly as possible.

_Piano a.s.sai_--very softly.

_Fortissimo possibile_--as loudly as possible.

_Forte piano_ (_fp_)--loud, followed at once by soft.

As in the case of terms relating to tempo, the meaning of many other expressions relating to _dynamics_ may easily be arrived at by recalling the list of auxiliary terms quoted under Sec. 96.

122. The terms _sforzando_, _forzando_, _sforzato_ and _forzato_ all indicate a strong accent on a single tone or chord. These words are abbreviated as follows:--_sf_,_fz_, and _sfz_, the abbreviation being placed directly above (sometimes below) the note or chord affected. The signs [vertical accent symbol] and [horizontal accent symbol] are also commonly used to indicate such an accent.

In interpreting these accent marks the student must bear in mind again the fact that they have a relative rather than an absolute meaning: the mark _sf_ occurring in the midst of a _piano_ pa.s.sage will indicate a much milder form of accent than would the same mark occurring in the midst of a _forte_ pa.s.sage.

123. The words _rinforzando_ and _rinforzato_ (abb.--_rinf._ and _rfz._) mean literally _reinforced_, and are used to indicate a sudden increase in power usually extending over an entire phrase or pa.s.sage instead of applying only to a single tone or chord as in the case of _sforzando_, etc.

124. _Crescendo_ (abb.--_cresc._ or [crescendo symbol]) means a gradual increase in power. It will be noted that this word does not mean _loud_, nor does it mean a sudden increase in power unless accompanied by some auxiliary term such as _subito_, or _molto_.

Broadly speaking there are _two varieties of crescendo_: (1) that in which the same tone increases in power while being prolonged; (2) that in which succeeding tones are each sounded more strongly than the preceding one. The first variety is possible only on instruments giving forth a tone which can be varied _after it begins_. Thus _e.g._, the human voice, the violin, the organ enclosed in a swell box, and certain wind instruments, are all capable of sounding a tone softly at first and gradually increasing the volume until the maximal point of power has been reached. But on the piano, organ not enclosed in a swell-box, kettle drum, etc., the power of the tone cannot be varied after the tone has once been sounded, and a _crescendo_ effect is therefore possible only in a _pa.s.sage_, in rendering which each succeeding tone is struck more forcibly than its immediate predecessor. This second variety of _crescendo_ offers a means of dramatic effect which may be employed most strikingly, as _e.g._, when a long pa.s.sage begins very softly and increases in power little by little until the utmost resources of the instrument or orchestra have been reached. A notable example of such an effect is found in the transition from the third to the fourth movements of the Beethoven Fifth Symphony.

The difference between _sforzando_, _rinforzando_, and _crescendo_ should now be noted: _sforzando_ indicates that a single tone or chord is to be louder; _rinforzando_, that an entire pa.s.sage is to be louder, beginning with its first tone; but _crescendo_ indicates that there is to be a gradual increase in power, this increase sometimes occurring during the sounding of a single tone, but more often in a pa.s.sage.

125. Certain _combinations of the word crescendo_ with other words are so common that they should be especially noted. Among these are:

_Crescendo al fortissimo_--keep on gradually increasing in power until the fortissimo (or very loud) point has been reached.

_Crescendo subito_--increase in power suddenly (or rapidly).

_Crescendo poco a poco_--increase in power very, very gradually.

_Crescendo poi diminuendo_--first increase, then diminish the tone.

_Crescendo e diminuendo_--same as _cresc. poi dim._

_Crescendo molto_--increase in power very greatly.

_Crescendo ed animando poco a poco_--growing gradually louder in tone and quicker in _tempo_.

_Crescendo ed affrettando_--gradually louder and faster.

[Transcriber's Note: Corrected misspelling ”affretando” in original.]

_Crescendo poco a poco sin al fine_--crescendo gradually even up to the very end.

126. _Decrescendo_ (_decresc._ or [decrescendo symbol]) means a gradual diminis.h.i.+ng of the tone. It is the opposite of _crescendo_. The word _diminuendo_ is synonymous with _decrescendo_.

_Decrescendo_ (or _diminuendo_) _al pianissimo_ means--decrease gradually in power until the _pianissimo_ (or very soft) point is reached.

127. A number of _terms referring to both softer tone and slower tempo_ are in use. The most common of these are:--_mancando_, _moriente_,[30]

_morendo_, _perdendo_ (from _perdere_--to lose), _perdendosi_, _calando_, and _smorzando_.[31] Such expressions are usually translated--”gradually dying away.”