pianissimo
pianissimo — adverb
1. written on a musical score to tell the performer to play that part of the piece
written on a musical score to tell the performer to play that part of the piece extremely softly and gently
Megan spotted the word pianissimo above the final bar and knew she had to fade to a whisper.
The composer wrote pianissimo at the start of the slow movement to set a quiet mood from the first note.
collocation: wrote + [pianissimo] on a score
When the sheet music says pianissimo, the flutes must produce the gentlest sound they can.
Emre explained to his student that the symbol pp stands for pianissimo in every printed score.
- fortissimo
the opposite dynamic marking, meaning very loud
文法句型
marked + [pianissimo]
play + [pianissimo]
用法筆記
Frequently appears as the abbreviation pp in sheet music notation. The instruction applies only to the section marked, not the whole piece.
常見錯誤
2. in a way that is extremely quiet and delicate, describing how a musician actuall
in a way that is extremely quiet and delicate, describing how a musician actually performs a piece rather than what the score says
The choir sang the lullaby pianissimo, filling the hall with the gentlest possible sound.
collocation: sang + [pianissimo]
Romi played the final chord pianissimo and let the silence slowly return.
The conductor asked the cellos to play pianissimo so the flute melody could rise above them clearly.
Gita practiced the section pianissimo until she could produce a pure, soft tone on every single note.
The recording captured each instrument playing pianissimo during the delicate opening bars.
- very softly
the English equivalent of pianissimo, though used in general contexts too
- quietly
a general English word; pianissimo is reserved for musical contexts
- fortissimo
very loud, the opposite dynamic level in music
文法句型
play + [pianissimo]
sing + [pianissimo]
[pianissimo] + passage
用法筆記
Describes the actual sound quality of a performance, as opposed to sense 1 which refers to a written instruction. Often appears with verbs of performing: played, sang, performed.
常見錯誤
pianissimo — adjective
- pianissimopositive
- more pianissimocomparative
- most pianissimosuperlative
1. describing a musical note, chord, or passage that is meant to be performed in a
describing a musical note, chord, or passage that is meant to be performed in a very quiet and gentle manner
The pianissimo passage in the third movement is the hardest part of the entire sonata.
attributive: pianissimo + passage
Sora's pianissimo chords were barely audible above the rustle of the audience.
The critics praised the pianist's pianissimo touch during the quiet middle section of the concerto.
A good pianissimo note on the violin requires extremely light bow pressure and slow speed.
The flutist held a long pianissimo tone that seemed to float in the concert hall.
- very soft
the English equivalent more widely understood
- barely audible
describes the same effect in more everyday language
- fortissimo
very loud, the opposite dynamic marking
文法句型
[pianissimo] + noun
be + [pianissimo]
用法筆記
Commonly used attributively (before a noun: pianissimo passage, pianissimo section). Less common predicatively ('this section is pianissimo'), which overlaps with the adverb sense.
常見錯誤
pianissimo — noun
- pianissimosingular
- pianissimosplural
1. a section of a musical work that is performed extremely quietly, or the skill of
a section of a musical work that is performed extremely quietly, or the skill of producing such a quiet sound
The pianissimo in the middle of the piece creates a beautiful moment of stillness before the climax.
countable: a/the + pianissimo
Tuan struggled with the long pianissimo because he kept running out of air before the end.
Elena built the volume gradually, moving from a gentle pianissimo to a powerful fortissimo over eight bars.
The conductor emphasized the sudden drop from a loud section into a quiet pianissimo.
- soft passage
the English equivalent; less technical
- whispered section
a more descriptive alternative
- fortissimo
a loud passage, the opposite dynamic extreme
文法句型
a + [pianissimo]
the + [pianissimo]
[pianissimo] + in
用法筆記
Used as a countable noun referring to a specific passage (a pianissimo), or uncountably referring to the technique or dynamic level (the quality of her pianissimo).