diminuendo
/dɪˌmɪn.juˈen.dəʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˌmɪn.juˈen.doʊ/ (ame, ipa) · /də-ˌmin-yə-ˈwen-(ˌ)dō -yü-ˈen- also -ˌmi-nə-ˈwen-/ (ame, mw) · /dɪˌmɪnjuˈendəʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˌmɪnjuˈendəʊ/ (ame, ipa)
diminuendo — adverb
1. as a written instruction in a musical score telling the performer to play or sin
as a written instruction in a musical score telling the performer to play or sing the marked passage so the sound steadily fades to a softer level
The composer wrote diminuendo above the final eight bars of the lullaby.
printed instruction in a score
Jude reminded the choir to sing diminuendo after the high B-flat in measure forty.
instruction to performers
From letter G the strings should play diminuendo until the page turn.
Beatrix penciled diminuendo into the cellist's part above the final phrase.
- decrescendo
the standard alternative spelling on Italian scores; same meaning, slightly more common in modern editions
- calando
marks a fade in both volume and tempo, while diminuendo only marks volume
- crescendo
the opposite written direction — sound gets louder, not softer
文法句型
printed above or below a musical staff
marked on the score
用法筆記
Printed at the start of the affected passage in a score, usually shortened to 'dim.' Distinct from sense 2 in that the instruction is given to the performer in writing rather than describing how a finished performance sounded.
常見錯誤
2. in a manner where the audible volume of a passage drops away across its length,
in a manner where the audible volume of a passage drops away across its length, used when describing how a musician actually performed the music
Arjun repeated the chorus diminuendo until only the violin remained audible.
verb + diminuendo describing performance
The choir sang the closing 'amen' diminuendo, fading into total silence.
manner adverb after a singing verb
Omar played the lullaby diminuendo so the baby would drift back to sleep.
The pianist took the final phrase diminuendo, lifting the pedal slowly.
- softly fading
plain-English paraphrase used when speaking to non-musicians
- decrescendo
interchangeable in performance description; decrescendo is slightly more common in American conservatory speech
- crescendo
in the opposite direction — sound grows louder across the passage
文法句型
verb + diminuendo
play/sing/repeat + diminuendo
用法筆記
Use after a verb of performing (play, sing, take, repeat). Distinct from sense 1, which describes the written instruction itself rather than the live performance.
常見錯誤
diminuendo — adjective
- diminuendopositive
- more diminuendocomparative
- most diminuendosuperlative
1. describing a stretch of music designed to grow steadily softer from one moment t
describing a stretch of music designed to grow steadily softer from one moment to the next
The conductor rehearsed the diminuendo phrase three times before the violins finally controlled it.
attributive: a + diminuendo + noun
Christopher loved the long diminuendo section that closes the second movement.
attributive adjective + section noun
Léa wrote a diminuendo coda for the string quartet's final piece.
A diminuendo effect on the cymbals would suit the end of the funeral march.
- decrescendo
the standard equivalent; both forms describe music designed to soften
- fading
the everyday word; loses the technical musical anchor
- crescendo
describes a passage designed to grow louder rather than softer
文法句型
a diminuendo + noun
the diminuendo passage / section / phrase
用法筆記
Used before a noun describing a passage, phrase, section, or effect. Rare in everyday speech and almost confined to conductor, composer, or critic talk.
常見錯誤
diminuendo — noun
- diminuendosingular
- diminuendosplural
1. a musical passage in which the volume steadily drops away to a softer level, or
a musical passage in which the volume steadily drops away to a softer level, or the printed instruction on the score that asks the performer to produce that effect
Jisoo missed the diminuendo at bar twenty and the brass overpowered the soloist.
the + diminuendo + at bar X
A long diminuendo carried the second movement toward an almost inaudible final chord.
a long + diminuendo as subject
Mira drew a hairpin diminuendo across the last four bars of the violin part.
The composer placed a sudden diminuendo right after the climax to surprise the audience.
Felipe practiced the diminuendo on the trumpet until his last note was barely a breath.
- decrescendo
the more common American label for the same musical event
- fade
everyday word for the same effect, especially outside classical contexts
- crescendo
names the opposite event — a passage that builds in volume
文法句型
a/the diminuendo
the diminuendo at bar X
a long/sudden diminuendo
用法筆記
Takes 'a' or 'the' and is countable. Common adjectives include 'long', 'gradual', 'sudden', and 'hairpin' (referring to the wedge-shaped notation symbol).