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On this page, you can find audio examples of different dynamics. The examples on this page consist of piano, forte, and a scale that crescendos on the way up and decrescendos on the way down. However, you should experiment at home with a fuller range of dynamics, consisting of: pianissimo (pp), piano (p), mezzo-piano (mp), mezzo-forte (mf), forte (f), fortissimo (ff).
All examples consist of a concert F Major scale played on a Bb clarinet, where each note equals a quarter note.
Each dynamic example is paired with a definition from https://www.naxos.com/education/glossary.asp
PIANO F MAJ EXAMPLE.mp3Piano (p): (Italian: soft) is generally represented by the letter p in directions to performers. Pianissimo, represented by pp, means very soft. Addition of further letters p indicates greater degrees of softness, as in Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony, where an excessive pppppp is used.
FORTE F MAJ EXAMPLE.mp3Forte (f): (Italian: loud) is used in directions to performers. It appears in the superlative form fortissimo (very loud). The letter f is an abbreviation of forte, ff an abbreviation of fortissimo, with fff or more rarely ffff even louder.
Something to consider: Try thinking about forte as "strong" instead of as "loud."
CRESC DECRESC F MAJ EXAMPLE.mp3Crescendo (<): (Italian: growing, becoming louder/stronger).
Decrescendo (>): (Italian: growing less, softening).
This example crescendos as the scale ascends, and decrescendos as the scale descends.
Although there is not example provided for the "mezzo" dynamics, it is important to understand how they work as well. Here is a definiton:
Mezzo: (Italian: half) is found particularly in the compound words mezzo-forte (‘half loud’, represented by the letters mf), and mezzo-piano (‘half soft’, represented by the letters mp).
Try out these different dynamics at home!
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