Dynamics

Dynamics refers to the volume of a sound   (how loud or how soft).
Dynamic markings are based on Italian words as with tempo markings,, although descriptions such as”quietly” or “louder” or “softer” are quite acceptable descriptions. In Italian, forte  means loud and piano means soft.  Piano also refers to the instrument, originally called a “pianoforte” as it was an one of the early keyboard instruments that was capable of  performing dynamics unlike .earlier popular keyboard instruments such as the harpsichord and spinet  which were not capable of performing dynamics..

The main dynamic levels are:

  • p or piano, which means “soft”
  • f or forte, which means “loud”

More subtle degrees of loudness or softness are indicated by:

  • mp, standing for mezzo-piano, which means “moderately soft”
  • mf, standing for mezzo-forte, which means “moderately loud”

Beyond f and p, there are also:

  • pp, which stands for pianissimo and means “very soft”
  • ff, which stands for fortissimo and means “very loud”https://youtu.be/Mp6UAGN_Ir4

    Dynamic Changes and Markings

    Listen to the dynamic changes in W.A. Mozart’s Overture to The Marriage of Figaro. Look at least at the first two pages. Note the soft dynamics on page one    (pp and p)  then change to fortissimo  (ff).

Dynamic Changes

To gradually change the dynamics, composers use crescendo and diminuendo (also decrescendo).

  • crescendo (cresc.): gradually play louder
    Two lines form an angle and gradually move apart.
  • diminuendo / decrescendo (dim. or decres.): gradually play softer
    Two lines gradually converging to form a point.

Dyanmic markings showing start softly (piano), gradually get louder (crescendo) until the music is loud (forte), then gradually get quieter (decrescendo or diminuendo) until it is quiet (piano) again.

Listen: Dynamic Changes

Listen for changes  in dynamics in crescendos in Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1, 3rd Movement, Menuetto.

Listen:  contrasting Dynamics

Now listen to the contrasting dynamics  in this work:  L’Arisienne  suite no 2  by Bizet. The work begins at a Forte (Loud) dynamic. At  0’41” the dynamics suddenly change to  pianissimo (very soft) dynamic which makes the beginning of a gradual crescendo (getting louder)  to a fortissimo (very loud) dynamic at  1’37” which it maintains to the end.

 Accents

Staff with 6/8 time and common accents found on notes, including sfz, fp and hats.

Common Accents

A composer may want a particular note to be louder than all the rest or may want the very beginning of a note to be loudest. Accents are markings that are used to indicate these especially strong-sounding notes. There are a few different types of written accents, but, like dynamics, the proper way to perform a given accent also depends on the instrument playing it, as well as the style and period of the music.

The exact performance of each type of accent depends on the instrument and the style and period of the music, but the sforzando- and fortepiano-type accents are usually louder and longer, and more likely to be used in a long note that starts loudly and then suddenly gets much softer. Caret-type accents are more likely to be used to mark shorter notes that should be stronger than unmarked notes.

This is a powerpoint on tempo and  dynamics. Open link below in new window Slides relating to dynamics begin on number 16:

http://www.slideshare.net/CandelaContent/tempo-and-dynamics-51357214