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crescendo

crescendo

20 6.1
A gradual increase in loudness or strength in music
  • noun
  • /krəˈʃɛndoʊ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : crescendo
  • The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks reached a dramatic crescendo during the storm.
  • reached a crescendo
  • builds to a crescendo
  • crescendo and diminuendo

This incessant repetition leads to powerful pounding, grand crescendos, and thrilling climaxes.

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Examples

  • As the choir sang, their voices rose in a powerful crescendo that filled the entire hall.

  • This incessant repetition leads to powerful pounding, grand crescendos, and thrilling climaxes.

  • For example, a singer's crescendo grows out of a change in the application of breath energy.

    Academic text (2014)
  • Here's where we're coming once again to another crescendo in in one of the early movements in this piece.

  • The symphony hits a crescendo, and my palms are stuck in place on the wheel.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The music came to a crescendo, then faded away into a quiet calmness.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • And then, slowly, applause builds in the chamber, reaching a crescendo as Pete reaches the door and exits.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Eventually, the rhythmic thuds reached their The rhythmic thuds reached their crescendo, then fell quiet.

  • The Manichee piece ended in a minor-key crescendo, and the echoes diminished and were gone.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The orchestra gradually built to a loud crescendo that left the audience in awe.

Synonyms

swell
vscrescendo
  • Specialized
50 6.5

A gradual rise and fall in music volume

is only the gradual increase without the following decrease
heightening
vscrescendo
1 4.6

An increase in how strong or serious something becomes

is the musical gradual rise in loudness rather than a general increase

Antonyms

decrescendo
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A gradual decrease in volume in music

How Loud

roar
142 1.0
crescendo
  • Specialized
20 6.1
murmur
36 4.1
silence
660 2.0

Surface Forms

crescendo singular
crescendos plural

Etymology

Crescendo comes from Italian and from the Latin verb crescere, which means 'to grow'. So a crescendo in music is a part where the sound slowly 'grows' louder, like a crescent moon that seems to get bigger.