decrescendo

[ dee-kri-shen-doh, dey-; Italian de-kre-shen-daw ]

/ ˌdi krɪˈʃɛn doʊ, ˌdeɪ-; Italian ˌdɛ krɛˈʃɛn dɔ /

Music.

gradually reducing force or loudness; diminuendo (opposed to crescendo).

a gradual reduction in force or loudness.

a decrescendo passage.

Origin of decrescendo

1800–10; < Italian, gerund of decrescere; see decrease

A descending passage, as a return to tranquillity, requires a decrescendo.

For Every Music Lover |Aubertine Woodward Moore
He made a decrescendo tinkling, and his lofty features lapsed into their normal mournfulness.

Romance |Joseph Conrad and F.M. Hueffer
When she sustains her voice for a couple of bars, I am quite surprised at the beauty of her crescendo and decrescendo.

The Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Vol. 1 |Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
When she had to sustain a note for a couple of bars, I was surprised at the beauty of her crescendo and decrescendo.

Life Of Mozart, Vol. 1 (of 3) |Otto Jahn

Decrescendo (or diminuendo) al pianissimo means—decrease gradually in power until the pianissimo (or very soft) point is reached.

Music Notation and Terminology |Karl W. Gehrkens

decrescendo

/ (ˌdiːkrɪˈʃɛndəʊ) /

another word for diminuendo

Italian, from decrescere to decrease