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SMART TALKSMART TALK SMART TALK

by Dr. Molto Breve

REACHED A CRESCENDO/ROSE TO A CRESCENDO: Some of us therapists at the Center for English as a First Language are amateur musicians, and we want to scream when we hear some ignoramus say reached a crescendo or rose to a crescendo. Sometimes I do scream, and not just because I’m Italian-American.

It’s like saying that the moon has reached a wane, or set the thermostat to warmer, or speeded up to an acceleration.

Crescendo as a verb means get louder, and as a noun means a rise in volume. Sometimes a composer will ask for a crescendo from very soft to soft. It never means a particular level. It doesn’t even mean loud.

Crescendo always indicates only an increase in volume. It’s no more a point than is wane, warmer, or acceleration.


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