Giovanni Gabrieli was an Italian composer in the 16th century who was credited as one of the first musicians to indicate dynamics, or degrees of loudness and softness, in musical notation. Dynamics are usually referred to as the volume of musical sounds. Dynamic symbols provide guides for interpreting a musical piece through its dynamics, with symbols indicating levels from very soft to very loud, as well as instructions for gradually changing volume through crescendos and decrescendos.

1. Dynamics

2. Giovanni Gabrieli – an Italian composer in the 16th
century, was credited as one of the first musicians
to indicate dynamics in music notations.
Dynamics – is the degree of loudness or softness in
music.
– usually referred to as the volume of musical
sounds

3. Dynamic Symbols – are guides in interpreting a
musical piece through its dynamics
Soft
Loud
Symbol Italian Term Meaning
mp mezzo piano moderately soft
p piano soft
pp pianissimo very soft
Symbol Italian Term Meaning
mf mezzo forte moderately loud
f forte loud
ff fortissimo very loud

4. Symbols used when changing volumes
Symbol Italian Term Meaning
(cresc.)
crescendo
gradually becoming
louder
(decresc.)
decrescendo or
diminuendo
gradually becoming
softer