Ohne Dämpfer

As Printed on a Score

Printed over a part where the mute is removed or, at the start of a part, to confirm none is used; equivalent to senza sordino and Dämpfer ab. It lasts until the next mute instruction.

How Composers Use It

Use ohne Dämpfer to mark the return to open sound, placed after enough rest for the mute to come off silently. The change can be a striking colour event: muted strings returning to open tone gain brightness and projection at once. In parts that might be left muted from an earlier movement, an explicit ohne Dämpfer prevents mistakes.

Example

Mahler, Symphony No. 5, third movement (Scherzo), first violins, m. 632: “ohne Dämpfer.” at ff, eleven bars after “mit Dämpfern.” (m. 621).

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