# Classical Music: How does the composer specify volume level? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 2, 2007, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-how-does-the-composer-specify-volume-level/414169 "2007-08-02T19:20:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-how-does-the-composer-specify-volume-level/414169/21 "2007-08-03T17:57:09Z")
> [@](#): > > Trivia, part deux: The cannonfire in the 1812 Overture is annotated in the score: ffff, which I can only assume translates as “just really, ungodly freaking loud.” In that same piece, the last note (played by non-explosive instruments) is marked with _ **fff** _, and then goes into a crescendo from there. As **Malacandra** says, we brass players did indeed take this as a challenge. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-how-does-the-composer-specify-volume-level/414169/22 "2007-08-03T18:09:32Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] marked with _ **fff** _, and then goes into a crescendo from there [/QUOTE] > [@Ronnie Van Zant](#): > > Turn it up 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-how-does-the-composer-specify-volume-level/414169/23 "2007-08-03T19:14:10Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] In that same piece, the last note (played by non-explosive instruments) … [/QUOTE] Traditionally you divide the orchestra into 4 groups of instruments, but I really like **Chronos’** approach: the explosive and non-explosive! ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-how-does-the-composer-specify-volume-level/414169/24 "2007-08-03T19:17:31Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] Then there’s a whole load of other markings which, while not simply being about dynamic level, have some crossover: it doesn’t take much Italian to work out what is mean by something like _ **molto feroce** _. [/QUOTE] My favourite (as a trombone player) is _tutta forza_, which I usually mentally translate as “let 'er rip!” ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-how-does-the-composer-specify-volume-level/414169/25 "2007-08-03T19:33:27Z")
This brings back memories of playing Stars and Stripes Forever in marching band. In the last pass through the last movement, we trombones with the counter-melody would try to out-blast the trumpets with the melody. The director wasn’t especially pleased about the competition, but we trombonists weren’t going to let the trumpets get away with all the glory. What is it about trombones (and tubas, too) that gives their players too much attitude? (I always imagined Melkor was a trombonist. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-how-does-the-composer-specify-volume-level/414169/26 "2007-08-03T20:07:43Z")
Simply put, low brass kicks ass. And I definitely agree about Melkor :). ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-how-does-the-composer-specify-volume-level/414169/27 "2007-08-04T17:41:59Z")
[QUOTE=MikeS] My favourite (as a trombone player) is _tutta forza_, which I usually mentally translate as “let 'er rip!” [/QUOTE] Many people know of the recording of a live performance of Verdi’s _Requiem_ conducted by Arturo Toscanini. Non-musicians may be interested to know that _tutta forza_ is notated in the “Tuba mirum” section of the “Dies Irae”. At that point in the recording, you can clearly hear Toscanini shouting “Louder, louder” to the brass. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-how-does-the-composer-specify-volume-level/414169.md?page=1)