Elements of Music
Dynamics
▫ Dynamics means the loudness and softness of
the music.
▫ Sometimes this is called volume.
▫ Music often changes volume gradually and goes
from loud to soft or from soft to loud. These
changes create SHAPE in the music.
Example 1
• “The Legend of Danny Boy” The Washington
Winds
Example 2
• “White Blank Page” Mumford and Sons
Technical Terms
• crescendo – gradually louder
• decrescendo – gradually softer
• pianissimo – very soft
• piano – soft
• mezzo piano – slightly soft (medium)
Technical Terms continued…
• mezzo forte – slightly loud (medium)
• forte – loud
• fortissimo – very loud
• Combined dynamics:
▫ fortepiano – play loud then instantly get quiet
▫ sforzando – a sudden accent
Connecting Dynamics to Colour…
• How does the dynamic level change the mood?
▫ “Master of Puppets” – Metallica
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSeOeRzXvs
 Write down the mood you feel when listening to this
song.
 Write down the dynamic level.
 What if it was played like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjXYkFzxIlU
Connecting continued…
• “River Flows in You” - Yiruma
▫ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4wUfZD6oc
▫ Write down the mood you feel when listening to
this song.
▫ Write down the dynamic level.