Pianissimo
Very soft
"Pianissimo" is an Italian musical term that translates to "very soft" or "very quiet" in English. It is used as a dynamic marking in music to indicate that a passage should be played or sung with an extremely soft volume or intensity.
"Pianissimo" is a dynamic instruction that guides performers to play a musical passage with an exceedingly soft volume. In sheet music, it is often represented by the abbreviation "pp". This marking informs musicians that they should approach the passage with a gentle touch, producing a sound that is very soft and delicate.
When encountering a "Pianissimo" marking, performers should play with an extremely soft volume. This requires using minimal force to strike the keys or singing the notes with utmost lightness. The "Pianissimo" marking can apply to individual notes, measures, or entire sections, depending on the composer's intent.
Composers use "Pianissimo" to indicate a passage of utmost softness. It is often employed to convey emotions with great subtlety or to create serene and delicate moments in the music. By using "Pianissimo", performers contribute to the dynamic shading and emotional depth of the piece.
Interpreting "Pianissimo" demands finesse and control. Musicians must produce a sound that is barely audible, creating an atmosphere of intimacy and vulnerability within the music.
Example of Pianissimo
Terminology Information
Vocabulary Category
Related Terms
Dictionary
Other Terms
Tutor's Video (Gala Shek)
Tutors
Articles
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer, the predominant musical figure during the transition between the Classical to Romantic eras. He occupies an unprecedented dominance in the history of Western music history, and has been widely regarded as the greatest, most influential and most popular musician who ever lived.
Beethoven's music inherited the artistic atmosphere of Haydn and Mozart, penetrated the desire for dignity, vented the anger tortured by fate, and demonstrated his determination to fight with fate.
Compared to other musicians, Beethoven is effectively to interact the philosophy of life with audience through music. Although he was not a romantic, he had become the object followed by other romantics.
As a musician, Beethoven suffered from ear diseases. However, he was unwilling to succumb to fate, vowing to take fate by the throat, and continue to complete his career. In the last ten years of his life, without hearing any sound, his compositions influenced the development of music for nearly two hundred years.
Canon in D
