rease in power unless accompanied by some
auxiliary term such as _subito_, or _molto_.

Broadly speaking there are _two varieties of crescendo_: (1) that in
which the same tone increases in power while being prolonged; (2) that
in which succeeding tones are each sounded more strongly than the
preceding one. The first variety is possible only on instruments giving
forth a tone which can be varied _after it begins_. Thus _e.g._, the
human voice, the violin, the organ enclosed in a swell box, and certain
wind instruments, are all capable of sounding a tone softly at first and
gradually increasing the volume until the maximal point of power has
been reached. But on the piano, organ not enclosed in a swell-box,
kettle drum, etc., the power of the tone cannot be varied after the
tone has once been sounded, and a _crescendo_ effect is therefore
possible only in a _passage_, in rendering which each succeeding tone is
struck more forcibly than its immediate predecessor. This second variety
of _crescendo_ offers a means of dramatic effect which may be employed
most strikingly, as _e.g._, when a long passage begins very softly and
increases in power little by little until the utmost resources of the
instrument or orchestra have been reached. A notable example of such an
effect is found in the transition from the third to the fourth movements
of the Beethoven Fifth Symphony.

The difference between _sforzando_, _rinforzando_, and
_crescendo_ should now be noted: _sforzando_ indicates that a
single tone or chord is to be louder; _rinforzando_, that an
entire passage is to be louder, beginning with its first tone;
but _crescendo_ indicates that there is to be a gradual
increase in power, this increase sometimes occurring during
the sounding of a single tone, but more often in a passage.

125. Certain _combinations of the word crescendo_ with other words are
so common that they should be especially noted. Among these are:

_Crescendo al fortissimo_--keep on gradually increasing in
power until the fortissimo (or very loud) point has been
reached.

_Crescendo subito_--increase in power suddenly (or rapidly).

_Crescendo poco a poco_--increase in power very, very
gradually.

_Crescendo poi diminuendo_--first increase, then diminish the
tone.

_Crescendo e diminuendo_--same as _cresc. poi dim._

_Crescendo molto_--increase in power very greatly