Mus. [It. crescendo increasing, pr. pple. of crescere to increase:—L. crēscĕre (cf. next).]
1. A musical direction indicating that the tone is to be gradually increased in force or loudness (abbrev. cres., cresc.). As sb.: A gradual increase of volume of tone in a passage of a piece of music; a passage of this description.
1774. ‘J. Collier,’ Mus. Trav. (ed. 4), 60. I stood still some time to observe the diminuendo and crescendo.
1789. Burney, Hist. Mus., III. 530. Domenico Mazzocchi [1626–40] … first … invented characters of crescendo, diminuendo, [etc.].
1812. W. Crotch, Elem. Mus. Comp., 112. The peculiar characteristic of the harpsichord is clearness, or precision. That of the piano forte, (as its name implies,) is its power of varying degrees of loudness and softness, either suddenly or by crescendo, diminuendo, rinforzando, &c.
1826. R. A. R., in Hone, Every-day Bk., II. 1171. Let these notes be played on a flute with perfect crescendos and diminuendoes.
1889. Chambers’ Cycl., III. 557. The swell of a good organ produces a most perfect crescendo.
b. transf. A gradual increase in loudness of voice.
1865. Pall Mall Gaz., 22 April, 11/1. He has not the force nor the physiognomy to represent the climbing crescendo of unjust anger and despairing sarcasm.
1882. Mrs. Riddell, Pr. Wales’s 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.
1785. in 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.
1884. Symonds, Shaks. Predecessors, v. 205. Its chief merit as a play is the crescendo of its interest.
1886. F. Harrison, Choice Bks. (1888), 30. The intense crescendo of the catastrophe, the absolute concentration of interest.
d. attrib. or as adj.
1859. Sat. Rev., VII. 430/2. A crescendo series of appeals to the Chairman to call the Commission together.
1870. Miss Bridgman, R. Lynne, II. iii. 70. ‘Borrow one!’ said Dicky in a crescendo tone of amazement.
