Diminuendo molto

As Printed on a Score

Printed below the staff as dim. molto or molto dim., sometimes followed by dashes, and often combined with a tempo word (rit. e dim. molto). The fading ends at the next printed dynamic, usually p or pp.

Abbreviations: dim. molto, molto dim.

Also spelled: molto diminuendo

How Composers Use It

A large, purposeful drop — the music withdrawing rather than simply softening. It is the natural way to leave a climax quickly without stopping dead. Write the destination dynamic, and say whether the tempo should relax too (dim. molto e rit.); players often slow down with a big diminuendo, so state it if you want the tempo kept.

Example

Debussy, Suite bergamasque, “Clair de lune”, m. 25: “dim. molto”, falling from the mf in the same bar to the pp printed two bars later.

Related Terms