noun / adverb / adjective
diminuendo
dih-min-yoo-EN-doh/dɪˌmɪnjuˈendəʊ/
A gradual decrease in musical loudness.
The violinist plays a diminuendo as the phrase gradually becomes quieter.
Etymology
The Italian form means “lessening” or “diminishing,” applied in music to the volume of sound. The instruction to soften progressively also names the gradual decrease itself.
In context
She had a big voice, she has this huge note, and it's a diminuendo. She shrinks it to this tiny sound and does a chromatic scale two octaves down into her chest voice.
More examples
- The pianist plays diminuendo through the final phrase.
- A diminuendo passage brings the lively movement to a quiet close.
- The conductor asks for smoother diminuendos at the ends of phrases.
Forms
diminuendo · diminuendos · diminuendi
Similar words
- decrescendo
- Names the same gradual softening; often used interchangeably.