Klarinet Archive - Posting 000223.txt from 2000/11

From: "Tony Wakefield" <tony-wakefield@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Decrescendo v Diminuendo
Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2000 08:26:59 -0500

I have never seen an Italian publication which uses the term "decrescendo".
I have never seen any worthwhile publication which uses that term. When
there is a much more logical and attractive word to use, I think it is
obscene we do not. I have seen lots of American big band jazz printed pub.
where it is used. If you think of the pressures of sight reading,
"decrescendo" <looks> a lot like "crescendo" and could, in a moment of
"deconcentration" be slightly misconstrued. The dictionaries only include it
because they also include 1000`s of new and corrupt terms which we have
become used to. Notice I didn`t say "gotten" used to! Would any reasonable
publisher & musician use the phrase "soft" or "loud" when preparing a
printed part? Why not then use verbally what we do see in print form.
Exceptions are of course do take place in the rehearsal room, when the
conductor has to BELLOW several alternatives at musicians who haven`t got
the point.
I say we should all use the correct terminology what got us to get some
meaning into know wot I mean and get us all to mean what we got. Get me?
Tony W.

----- Original Message -----
From: Audrey Travis <vsofan@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] Decrescendo

> The word decrescendo is Italian and means the same as diminuendo (from the
> Harvard Concise Dictionary of Music). Both are acceptable.
>
> Audrey
>
> Tony Wakefield wrote:
>
> > A. Achesson (N. Ireland) writes:-
> >
> > <<He would have me attack a low E, crescendo and swell &
> > > decrescendo while gently hitting the register key, then continue to
> > > decrescendo into nothing. Then repeat the process on low F, F#, G
> > > moving up chromatically to thumb F. I can't really describe it very
> > > well. >>
> >
> > What would be the point of this excersise? Is this a beginners ex. for
> > learning to slur into the upper reg?
> > Is it an advanced ex. to learn control of the decrescendo?
> >
> > I can understand Keith Stein`s ex. leaping from low to altissimo, but
not so
> > clear on the above decrescendo bit.
> >
> > I`m in your hands - - - -
> >
> > I have always been taught crescendo & "diminuendo", not decrescendo. Is
> > decrescendo a real word, or an Americanised corruption? (Perhaps the
Irish
> > corrupted it first, or the Scots, or even the Picts). For someone this
side
> > of the plate fault to use "decrescendo", has got me all wound up,
> > frustrated, and somewhat angry, as it is a horrible, horrid word, don`t
you
> > agree?
> >
> > Tony W.

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