Music Dynamics

In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of
the execution of a given piece, either stylistic (staccato, legato
etc.) or functional (velocity).
Relative loudness:
P piano meaning soft
f forte meaning loud
mp/mf mezzo meaning moderately
pp/ff pianissimo/fortissimo meaning very
ppp/fff pianissimo/fortissimo possibile meaning most
possible (loudest/softest)
Sudden changes and accented notes:
Sudden changes in dynamics may be notated by adding the word subito (Italian for suddenly) as a prefix or suffix
to the new dynamic notation. Accents can also be notated using the sign >, placed above or below the head of the
note.
Sforzando (or sforzato or forzando or forzato), indicates a forceful accent and is abbreviated as sf, sfz or fz.
The fortepiano notation fp indicates a forte followed immediately by piano. Sforzando piano (sfzp or sfp)
indicates a sforzando followed immediately by piano; in general, any two dynamic markings may be treated
similarly.
Rinforzando, rfz or rf (literally "reinforcing") indicates that several notes, or a short phrase, are to be
emphasized.
Gradual changes:
In addition, two Italian words are used to show gradual changes in volume. Crescendo, abbreviated cresc.,
translates as "gradually becoming louder", and diminuendo, abbreviated dim., means "gradually becoming softer".
The alternate decrescendo, abbreviated to decresc., also means "gradually becoming softer".
For greater changes in dynamics, cresc. molto and dim. molto are often used, where the molto means much.
Similarly, for slow changes cresc. poco a poco and dim. poco a poco are used, where poco a poco translates as little
by little.
Words/phrases indicating changes of dynamics:
al niente: to nothing; fade to silence.
calando: decreasing; becoming smaller
calmando: becoming calmer
crescendo: becoming louder
dal niente: from nothing; out of silence
decrescendo or diminuendo: becoming softer
fortepiano: loud and then immediately soft
fortissimo piano: very loud and then
immediately soft
in rilievo: in relief (French en dehors:
outwards); indicates that a particular instrument
or part is to play louder than the others so as to
stand out over the ensemble. In the circle of
Arnold Schoenberg, this expression had been
replaced by the letter "H" (for German,
"Hauptstimme"), with an added horizontal line
at the letter's top, pointing to the right, the end
of this passage to be marked by the symbol " ".
perdendo or perdendosi: losing volume,
fading into nothing, dying away
mezzoforte piano: moderately strong and
then immediately soft
morendo: dying away (may also indicate a
tempo change)
marcato: stressed, pronounced
pianoforte: soft and then immediately strong
sforzando piano: with marked emphasis, then
immediately soft
sotto voce: in an undertone (whispered or
unvoiced)
smorzando: becoming muffled or toned down