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		Dynamics in Music - 
		Definition 
			Dynamic marks in music tell the musician how loud or soft the music 
		should be played. For instrumental parts the dynamic marks are placed 
		under a note beneath the musical stave. For a vocal or singing part the 
		dynamic mark is placed above a note on top of the musical stave
			Signs of expression that relate to dynamics in music date back at 
		least as far as the year 1000 A.D. Modern terms used for this purpose 
		did not appear until some years after the invention of opera, the date 
		given by C.F.A. Williams in Grove's Dictionary being 1638. These words 
		and signs of expression were at first used only in connection with 
		instrumental music, but were also gradually applied to vocal music. 
			
		Dynamics in Music - 
		Tones & Scales 
		The term dynamics in music is related to the various degrees of power 
		(i.e., the comparative loudness and softness) of tones. All the terms 
		and expressions that refer to music dynamics are never absolute, they 
		are always relative. In music notation, it is possible to specify that 
		one measure is to be louder than another, but it is not possible to 
		identify exactly how loud either should be. The dynamics of a music 
		piece depend on the taste of the performer or conductor. 
			
		Dynamics in Music - Terms 
		The following 
		terms refer to music dynamics: 
			
				
					
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						Dynamics in 
						Music - Term | 
						
						Dynamics in Music - Meaning | 
					 
					
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						Pianisissimo 
						(ppp) | 
						As 
						softly as possible | 
					 
					
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						Pianissimo 
						(pp) | 
						Very 
						softly | 
					 
					
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						Piano (p) | 
						Softly | 
					 
					
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						Mezzo piano 
						(mp) | 
						Medium 
						softly | 
					 
					
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						Mezzo forte 
						(mf) | 
						Medium 
						loudly | 
					 
					
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						Forte (f) | 
						Loudly
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						Fortissimo 
						(ff) | 
						Very 
						Loudly | 
					 
					
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						Fortisissimo 
						(fff) | 
						As 
						loudly as possible | 
					 
					
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						Con alcuna 
						licenza | 
						With 
						some degree of license. | 
					 
					
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						Con amore | 
						With 
						tenderness | 
					 
					
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						Con bravura | 
						With 
						boldness | 
					 
					
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						Con celerita | 
						With 
						rapidity | 
					 
					
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						Con delicato | 
						With 
						delicacy | 
					 
					
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						Con energico | 
						With 
						energy | 
					 
					
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						Con 
						espressione | 
						With 
						expression | 
					 
					
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						Con forza | 
						With 
						force | 
					 
					
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						Con fuoco | 
						With 
						fire and passion | 
					 
					
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						Con grand' 
						espressione | 
						With 
						great expression. | 
					 
					
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						Con grazia | 
						With 
						grace. | 
					 
					
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						Con 
						melinconia | 
						With 
						melancholy | 
					 
					
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						Con passione | 
						With 
						passion | 
					 
					
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						Con spirito | 
						With 
						spirit | 
					 
					
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						Con 
						tenerezza | 
						With 
						tenderness | 
					 
					
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						Delicato | 
						
						Delicately | 
					 
					
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						Dolce | 
						Sweetly, 
						gently | 
					 
					
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						Dolcissimo | 
						Most 
						sweetly | 
					 
					
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						Dolce e 
						cantabile | 
						Gently 
						and with singing tone | 
					 
					
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						Espressivo | 
						
						Expressively. | 
					 
					
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						Grandioso | 
						
						Grandly, 
						pompously | 
					 
					
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						Legato | 
						
						Smoothly | 
					 
					
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						Leggiero | 
						
						Lightly | 
					 
					
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						Grazioso | 
						
						Gracefully | 
					 
					
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						Giocoso | 
						
						Humorously | 
					 
					
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						Mesto | 
						
						Pensively | 
					 
					
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						Mezzo voce | 
						
						With half 
						voice | 
					 
					
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						Misterioso | 
						
						Mysteriously | 
					 
					
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						Pastoralei | 
						
						In simple 
						and unaffected style | 
					 
					
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						Pomposo | 
						
						Pompously | 
					 
					
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						Precipitoso | 
						
						
						Precipitously | 
					 
					
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						Risoluto | 
						
						Firmly, 
						resolutely | 
					 
					
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						Semplice | 
						
						Simply | 
					 
					
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						Sentimento | 
						
						With 
						sentiment | 
					 
					
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						Solenne | 
						
						Solemn | 
					 
					
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						Sotto voce | 
						
						in subdued 
						voice | 
					 
					
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						Spiritoso | 
						
						With spirit | 
					 
					
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						Strepitoso | 
						
						
						Precipitously | 
					 
					
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						Tranquillo | 
						
						Tranquilly | 
					 
					
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						Tristamente | 
						
						Sadly | 
					 
				 
			 
			
		Dynamics in Music - 
		Worksheet 
		
		Need to test your musical 
		theory or looking for a quiz to test your students? Click on the link 
		below, print off and complete a useful worksheet which includes a quiz on 
		musical theory terms and notation. The answers have also been provided, just 
		click on the link at the bottom of the quiz for the answers in a 
		printable format. 
			
			
			
		
		Dynamics in Music 
		- Facts about Music 
			Dynamics in Music Facts....Did you know... 
			
				
					
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						Dynamics Fact 1: 
						The symbol 'f' is used in music dynamics to indicate 
						that a composition is to be played 'strongly' | 
					 
					
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						Dynamics Fact 2:  
						In music notation, dynamic marks tell the musician how 
						loud or soft a particular piece should be played | 
					 
					
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						Dynamics Fact 3:  
						In sheet music, dynamics are displayed a single letter 
						or group of letters which represent the Italian word or 
						words that the term translates to | 
					 
					
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						Dynamics 
						Fact 4: The symbol 'ff' is used in music dynamics to 
						indicate that a composition is to be played 'very 
						loud/very strong' | 
					 
					
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						Dynamics Fact 5:  
						If the term 'Tristamente' is used, the piece should be 
						played 'sadly' | 
					 
					
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						Dynamics Fact 6:  
						Early composers such as Bach and Mozart used dynamics 
						infrequently. Only an occasional 'p' or 'f'' was 
						recorded in their sheet music | 
					 
					
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						Dynamics Fact 7:  
						Giovanni Gabrieli was a Renaissance composer. He was one 
						of the first composers to used dynamics in his music 
						notation | 
					 
					
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						Dynamics Fact 8:  
						Beethoven used the term 'ppp' (Pianississimo) meaning 
						'extremely soft' in many of his compositions | 
					 
					
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						Dynamics Fact 9:  
						The term 'piano' when used in the context of music 
						dynamics means 'softly' or 'weakly', it is usually 
						represented as the 'p' symbol | 
					 
					
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						Dynamics Fact 10:  
						The term Sforzando indicates a forceful accent and is 
						abbreviated as sf, sfz or fz | 
					 
					
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						Dynamics Fact 11:  
						The dynamic terms 'rinforzando' and 'rinforzato' mean 
						reinforced. They are used indicate a sudden increase in 
						power which usually extends over an entire phrase or 
						passage instead of applying only to a single tone or 
						chord | 
					 
					
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						Dynamics Fact 12:  
						 In sheet music, the term Crescendo (abbreviation: cresc. or < ) means a gradual increase in power | 
					 
					
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						Dynamics Fact 13:  
						 In music dynamics, the term Decrescendo 
						(abbreviation:  decresc. or > ) means a gradual 
						decrease of the tone | 
					 
					
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						Dynamics Fact 14:  
						Sudden changes in music dynamics are often notated by 
						adding the word 'subito' meaning 'suddenly' as a prefix 
						or suffix to the new dynamic notation | 
					 
					
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						Dynamics Fact 15:  
						Con grazia is the term used to indicate the piece is the 
						be played 'with grace' | 
					 
				 
			 
			
		Dynamics in Music - Bible 
			References 
			Music was 
			mentioned many times in the bible, the following definition of 
		music is taken from Easton Bible Dictionary. 
			
				
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					Jubal was the 
					inventor of musical instruments (Gen. 4:21). The Hebrews 
					were much given to the cultivation of music. Their whole 
					history and literature afford abundant evidence of this. 
					After the Deluge, the first mention of music is in the 
					account of Laban's interview with Jacob (Gen. 31:27). After 
					their triumphal passage of the Red Sea, Moses and the 
					children of Israel sang their song of deliverance (Ex. 15) 
					  
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					The period of 
					Samuel, David, and Solomon was the golden age of Hebrew 
					music, as it was of Hebrew poetry. Music was now for the 
					first time systematically cultivated. It was an essential 
					part of training in the schools of the prophets (1 Sam. 
					10:5; 19:19-24; 2 Kings 3:15; 1 Chr. 25:6). There now arose 
					also a class of professional singers (2 Sam. 19:35; Eccl. 
					2:8). The temple, however, was the great school of music. In 
					the conducting of its services large bands of trained 
					singers and players on instruments were constantly employed 
					(2 Sam. 6:5; 1 Chr. 15; 16; 23;5; 25:1-6)  
				 
			 
			
			Dream Explanation - Dynamics in Music 
			Hearing 
		harmonious and soothing music in your dream, is a good omen of 
		prosperity, pleasure and the expression of your emotions in a positive 
		way. Music serves to heal the soul. Hearing discordant music in your 
		dream means unhappiness and troubles in the home.   
			
			
			Dynamics in Music - Tattoos 
			Images used 
			in music dynamics are a great idea for tattoos. Looking for 
			inspiration for a unique tattoo design? Why not choose a musical 
			term or incorporate a selection of musical 
			symbols 
			or abbreviations in your own design? A great way to show your interest in the 
			fascinating world of music. Whether your preferred genre is Rock or 
			Classical, Disco or Country, There are a huge number of music 
			symbols to choose from - a great choice for a 
			tattoo! Browse through our selection of images and check out the 
			meaning of each one. 
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			Dynamics in Music  ♪
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