Crescendo to

As Printed on a Score

Printed below the staff where the crescendo begins (cresc. to ff), or as a hairpin, with dashes or a line showing its span; the named dynamic is printed again at the bar where it is reached.

How Composers Use It

Naming the target removes the main ambiguity of a crescendo: how far to go. Start from a stated dynamic and place the target at the exact arrival, so players can pace the rise. In orchestral writing, sections may need different targets to balance; write the target in each part rather than assuming one level for all.

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