What are Dynamics?

Why should I use dynamics, and

how do I use them?

By Katherine Ehlers
What Musicians See on Music
Basics
Just another Element
Basic definition of dynamics is making a piece
of music vary in volume from soft to loud or
loud to soft
Dynamics use symbols and Italian words to
indicate the sound level
Dynamics add musical contrast and expression to
the music
Gives flexibility and range to music through volume
Execution: stylistically and functionally
Ex. The difference between staccato and legato or speed

What is the Point of Dynamics?
Dynamics dependent on tempo marks and the general mood of the piece of music
Accents
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
Accented notes (notes to emphasize or play louder compared to surrounding notes)
Ex. One particularly noteworthy use of forzando is in the second movement
of Joseph Haydn's Surprise Symphony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_6mrLc_mEw
Notated sforzando, sforzato, forzando or forzato (abbreviated sfz or fz)
referring to "forcing"
Gradual changes
Crescendo (cresc.) referring to gradually becoming louder
For greater changes in dynamics, cresc. molto and dim. molto are often used,
where the molto means much
Diminuendo (dim.) means gradually becoming softer
For slow changes cresc. poco a poco and dim. poco a poco are used,
where poco a poco translates as little by little
Ex. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's fantasy overture, Romeo and Julie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psFHjnIaaFU

What is the difference between an
ensembles dynamics to solo dynamics?
Dynamics will sound different from an ensemble to solo pieces
Some dynamics are hard to distinguish the difference between their
volumes
Dynamics are relative and do not refer to specific volume levels
Interpretation of dynamic levels are left mostly to the performer or ensemble
Performers use dynamics to be sensitive not to just the melody, but the harmony and
bass line
All parts need to be heard and equally balanced out
Most music in the baroque and classical period stay between forte and
piano
In romantic and modern pieces dynamics have large contrast
Beethoven was the marker for the transition from classical to romantic period
In these time periods the composer wanted to reach the highest point of
passion in the piece and would fade to another extreme dynamic
Ex. Holsts The Planets goes to forte fortissimo (FFF)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGGlL1wexQk
Ex. Tchaikovsky uses (ppppp) in his Pathetique Symphony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHAfvUFtCIY

So, how are dynamics written?
Music Notation
Dynamics are written into the music by the
composer or arranger
the ones composers use for dynamics are written with
Italian words or with special symbols
Sometimes performer will add their own dynamics
or just play them as they see fit


Why are dynamics Italian?
European music was first written down in Italy
Italy was the center of musical learning
many musicians came to study the state of the art
practices, they carried those advanced practices
back to their own countries

So Why is it called Piano?
The keyboard instruments that were common before
the piano was invented (the organ, the harpsichord,
the clavichord)
one bad thing they shared is that they were lousy for
dynamics
The Piano changed that
It was able to change dynamic instantly
Soft-loud in Italian, is (of course) piano forte. So were
really calling the piano by its first name: the soft (quiet).
Pianos have changed over the centuries, and the modern
piano is different in some ways than the original piano
forte





So, what did we learn?
1. The symbols and Italian words to look for in
music notation.
2. Applying dynamics to give expression to the
music
3. History lesson:
1. Italy is where music was 1
st
written in Europe
2. Most of the musicians went to study music in Italy
3. Piano was the 1
st
keyboard instrument to meet the
demands of dynamic range

Why should I use dynamics, and
how do I use them?
Work Cited
"Haydn Symphony No 94 G Major "Surprise" "Mit Dem
Paukenschlag" Bernstein Wiener
Philarmoniker." YouTube. YouTube, 11 Dec. 2012. Web.
11 Dec. 2013.
"Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Romeo and Juliet - Fantasy
Overture." YouTube. YouTube, 03 Sept. 2011. Web. 11
Dec. 2013.
"Holst-Planets Suite-Mars-Proms 2009." YouTube.
YouTube, 26 July 2009. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.
"TCHAIKOVSKY - Symphony No6 (Pathetique) - Herbert
Von Karajan & Wiener Phil."YouTube. YouTube, 22 Mar.
2011. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.