Mit Dämpfer

[mit DEMP-fer]GermanArticulation

With mute — the German equivalent of con sordino.

How Composers Use It

German equivalent of con sordino. "Ohne Dämpfer" or "Dämpfer ab" means to remove the mute. Common in Mahler, Bruckner, and Strauss.

Mahler's Symphony No. 1, third movement — "mit Dämpfer" solo double bass opens the funeral march with its famous minor-key "Frère Jacques."

Mit Dämpfer is one of 228 terms in the Gradus musical dictionary, where every definition is written around how composers actually use the word.

Loading…