Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov · section 69 of 100

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.