Crescendo and diminuendo.
Short crescendi and diminuendi are generally produced by natural
dynamic means; when prolonged, they are obtained by this
method combined with other orchestral devices. After the strings,
the brass is the group most facile in producing dynamic shades
of expression, glorifying crescendo chords into the most brilliant
sforzando climaxes. Clarinets specialise in diminuendo effects and
are capable of decreasing their tone to a breath (morendo). Prolonged
orchestral crescendi are obtained by the gradual addition
of other instruments in the following order: strings, wood-wind,
brass. Diminuendo effects are accomplished by the elimination
of the instruments in the reverse order (brass, wood-wind, strings).
The scope of this work does not lend itself to the quotation of
prolonged crescendo and diminuendo passages. The reader is referred,
therefore, to the full scores:
- * Shéhérazade, pp. 5-7, 92-96, 192-200.
- * Antar 6, 51.
- * The Christmas Night 183.
- * Sadko 165-166.
- * The Tsar's Bride 80-81.
Many examples of shorter crescendi and diminuendi will be
found in Vol. II.
