Pianissimo

Very soft, but not weak

On the page Dynamics you find the scale from soft to loud: pianissimo, piano, mezzopiano, mezzoforte, forte and fortissimo. The levels are, according to the page, no exact measurements but points of reference. Forte means something different in a string quartet than in a large orchestra; what matters is always the relationship to one another, the contrast and not the absolute level.

On the Notation symbols page pianissimo is described as one level below piano: a breathy, almost vanishing sound. It is a demanding dynamic level, because you have to bring touch, bow handling or breath to a minimum without the note tipping over or breaking. As an example the page names the pp string entry in the Joy theme of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, barely audible, the listener “leans forward”.

The Dynamics page explains the effect: the quiet in nature is often distant, delicate or mysterious, and a quiet beginning draws attention, because we have to make an effort to listen. It advises: rather begin more quietly than necessary, then there is room above.

Pianissimo in the score

Voice and piano

• Ein Ton Peter Cornelius · voice and piano, with chords for guitar · 3 pages

  3/4, one sharp. In the piano first p, in the second bar pp with a fermata over the note, then p again.

Guitar

• Dänische Weise Nr. 15 Felix Horetzky · guitar · 1 page

  “Andante con espress.”, 2/4, one sharp. On the B7 chord at the end of each group of four there is pp, alternating with f at the start of the second part.

Orchestra

• Sinfonie Nr. 9 e-Moll Antonín Dvořák · 2nd movement: Largo · score · 18 pages

  On PDF page 18 in the flute under “Solo” and “Solo II” there is pp each time, in the violins later ppp.

Common mistakes

• Too soft for the room: The Dynamics page points out that the room plays a part. In a resonant room a pp behaves differently from in a dry one.
• Letting the note break off: Even at pp it has to carry.
• Taking pp absolutely: It is a relationship to the surrounding sound.