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▪ I. ‖ crescendo, n. Mus.|kreʃˈʃɛndo, krɪˈʃɛndəʊ|
[It. crescendo increasing, pr. pple. of crescere to increase:—L. crēscĕre (cf. crescent n.).]
1. A musical direction indicating that the tone is to be gradually increased in force or loudness (abbrev. cres., cresc.). As n.: A gradual increase of volume of tone in a passage of a piece of music; a passage of this description.
1776‘J. Collier’ Mus. Trav. 60, I stood still some time to observe the diminuendo and crescendo. 1789Burney Hist. Mus. III. 530 Domenico Mazzocchi [1626–40]..first..invented characters of crescendo, diminuendo, etc. 1812W. Crotch Elem. Mus. Comp. 112 The peculiar characteristic of the piano forte is its power of varying degrees of loudness and softness, either suddenly or by crescendo, diminuendo, rinforzando, etc. 1826R. A. R. in Hone Every-day Bk. II. 1171 Let these notes be played..with perfect crescendos and diminuendoes. 1889Chambers' Cycl. III. 557 The swell of a good organ produces a most perfect crescendo.
b. transf. A gradual increase in loudness of voice.
1865Pall Mall G. 22 Apr. 11 He has not the force..to represent the climbing crescendo of unjust anger and despairing sarcasm. 1882Mrs. J. H. Riddell Pr. Wales' Garden-Party 45 ‘Do you mean that Sir Henry is dead?’ interposed Susan, in a gradual crescendo.
c. fig. A progressive increase in force or effect.
1785in Sel. Papers Twining Family (1887) 123 The crescendo of mountains, as we went up the lake, pleased me as much, I think, as any crescendo of sound can have pleased you. 1884Symonds Shaks. Predecessors v. 205 Its chief merit as a play is the crescendo of its interest. 1886F. Harrison Choice Bks. (1888) 30 The intense crescendo of the catastrophe, the absolute concentration of interest.
d. attrib. or as adj.
1859Sat. Rev. VII. 430/2 A crescendo series of appeals to the Chairman to call the Commission together. 1870M. Bridgman R. Lynne II. iii. 70 ‘Borrow one!’ said Dicky in a crescendo tone of amazement.
e. colloq. (orig. U.S.). The peak of an increase in volume, force, or intensity; a climax. Esp. in phr. to reach a crescendo.
1925F. Scott Fitzgerald Great Gatsby iii. 68 The caterwauling horns had reached a crescendo and I turned away and cut across the lawn toward home. 1939Wodehouse Uncle Fred in Springtime iv. 54 The babble at the bar had risen to a sudden crescendo. 1946R.A.F. Jrnl. May 170 The crescendo came when more than sixteen hundred bombers battered the coastal defences. 1958L. Uris Exodus (1959) i. xxvii. 169 At the end of the second week the Jews were still holding fast and the clamour in the press was reaching a crescendo. 1961E. E. Golay Organizing Local Church v. 57 The total process of evangelism reaches the crescendo when the group of new members stands before the congregation to declare publicly their faith. 1975Economist 16 Aug. 8/1 It was in relation to the annual increment arrangements of the civil service pay system that your attack reached its crescendo of unfairness.
▪ II. creˈscendo, v.
[f. the n.]
intr. To increase gradually in loudness or intensity.
1900Westm. Gaz. 2 July 2/1 A faint whir crescendoes rapidly into the shrill whoop of a steam-siren. 1901Ibid. 12 Nov. 2/1 The trolly-cars, with their booming note which crescendoes up the scale with increasing speed and diminuendoes with the slackening of it. 1903R. Langbridge Flame & Flood xvi, A bubbling torrent of vituperation that crescendoed as she leapt in air..and decrescendoed, as..she turned away. 1927Daily Express 24 Oct. 10/3 ‘The season’..starts in November, crescendoes to its height in January and February, to die away in April. 1969Daily Tel. 3 Feb. 12/3 As well as the nudity story which crescendoed up from Italy to swamp much of the Paris after-dark fashion, there is real news. |