Poco a poco

As Printed on a Score

Printed after or before the word it spreads out (“cresc. poco a poco”, “poco a poco accel.”, “dim. poco a poco”), often with dashes stretched across the bars the change covers. It lasts until the change is complete, which is usually shown by a target dynamic or by a new tempo word such as a tempo.

How Composers Use It

Poco a poco makes a change gradual: the crescendo, accelerando or diminuendo it qualifies should unfold steadily over the whole span, not arrive at once. It is the composer’s main tool for long transitions, such as Bruckner’s extended crescendos, but it needs a goal, a printed dynamic or tempo at the end, so players can pace themselves. Without one, they will either arrive too early or never quite arrive.

Example

Bruckner, Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, finale, flute, m. 79: “poco a poco crescendo”, two bars after a pp.

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