diminuendo

[dih-min-yoo-en-doh]

adjective

1. gradually reducing in force or loudness; decrescendo (crescendo ).

noun

plural

diminuendoes 

1. a gradual reduction of force or loudness.

2. a diminuendo passage. >

diminuendo

/ dɪˌmɪnjʊˈɛndəʊ /

noun

1. 1. dim. a gradual decrease in loudness or the musical direction indicating this

   2. a musical passage affected by a diminuendo

adjective

1. gradually decreasing in loudness

2. with a diminuendo

Word History and Origins

Origin of diminuendo¹

1765–75; < Italian, present participle of diminuire; diminish

Word History and Origins

Origin of diminuendo¹

C18: from Italian, from diminuire to _diminish

Example Sentences

Later, after a short diminuendo featuring Joachim’s gorgeous live singing and those choppy, sampled vocals, the full-band dynamic returns, now with fiery lines from Joachim’s flute.

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And that comes down to choices about how to describe things and how much insider language to use, like “diminuendo” or “staccato.”

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He plays through the ends of phrases, bringing them to a fine point with exquisitely shaped diminuendos, and maintains a clear yet shimmery tone.

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For the “Flower Song” from “Carmen,” Tetelman cushions the contours of his phrases, hooks into high notes without breaking the musical line and nails the diminuendo on the high B flat.

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The Philharmonic’s other soloists included the soprano Sherezade Panthaki, who scrupulously shaped her music by approaching top notes with a diminuendo.

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