What does crescendo mean?
Word: Crescendo
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Crescendo means a gradual increase in the loudness of a piece of music. It can also mean any sound that keeps growing louder.
How do you spell crescendo?
Syllables: cre - scen - do
Tricky part: The s sound is written sc. Cresendo is the usual slip, because the c is silent.
Watch out for: cresendo, creshendo
Memory tip: A crescendo climbs a musical scale, so let scale remind you of the s and c that go together.
Crescendo in a sentence
Example 1: The school band practised the crescendo until it stopped sounding like a sudden shout.
Example 2: Rain on the tin roof rose in a crescendo as the storm came nearer.
Example 3: Listen for the crescendo just before the final chord.
Fun Fact
Crescendo is the Italian word for growing. In printed music it is often shown as a long, thin wedge that opens towards the right.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The drums built slowly to a crescando as the final float of the Republic Day parade rolled past the crowd.
a) parade
b) crescando
c) crowd
d) final
Show answer
b) crescando. The stressed vowel is written with an e.
Mingle-Mangle
Unscramble the jumbled word in the sentence and choose the correct word:
The audience held its breath as the orchestra rose to a eoncrdecs.
a) crescendo
b) crescent
c) concerto
d) cadenza
Show answer
a) crescendo. Crescent and concerto call for a t, and cadenza for an a and a z, so only one option fits these letters.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word crescendo as used in the sentence:
The piece ends in a long crescendo that fills the whole hall.
a) build-up
b) swell
c) diminuendo
d) surge
Show answer
c) diminuendo. A diminuendo is the music growing gradually softer.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. orchestera 2. sopprano 3. harmoney 4. crescendo
a) a steady growth in the volume of sound
b) the highest singing voice
c) a large group of musicians playing together
d) notes sounding together in a pleasing way
Show answer
a) a steady growth in the volume of sound. Orchestra has no e after the t, harmony no e after the n, and soprano one p.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. How should a class sing a line if the teacher asks for a crescendo?
a) softly from the start to the very end
b) strongly from the start to the very end
c) softly at the start and strongly by the end
d) strongly at the start and softly by the end
Show answer
c) softly at the start and strongly by the end
2. The cheering in the stadium reached a crescendo. What was the crowd doing?
a) leaving by the side gates
b) sitting in complete silence
c) cheering louder and louder
d) waiting for the rain to stop
Show answer
c) cheering louder and louder
