# dramatic crescendo: what's it called? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 12, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-crescendo-whats-it-called/476811 "2008-12-12T01:49:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cat\_In\_A\_Top\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@Cat\_In\_A\_Top\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_In_A_Top_Hat)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-crescendo-whats-it-called/476811/1 "2008-12-12T01:49:09Z")
Every so often I hear this particular cheesy sound effect. It’s usually put in during sitcoms and the like after someone’s just said something that amounts to a twist. You’d know it if you heard it: “DUN dun DUHHHH!” \<–that one. Is there a name for it? When was it first used? ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-crescendo-whats-it-called/476811/2 "2008-12-12T02:10:21Z")
I think it’s called a “sting” in the business. But I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-crescendo-whats-it-called/476811/3 "2008-12-12T02:48:05Z")
Speaking of cheesy sounds, what is that seven-note tune that people often tap out when they’re knocking on a door? I’m talking about the one that goes “da da da da-da…da DA!” ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-crescendo-whats-it-called/476811/4 "2008-12-12T03:05:04Z")
sfz (sforzando)? > **[Dynamics (music)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamics_(music)#Sudden_changes)** > > In music, the dynamics of a piece are the variation in loudness between notes or phrases. Dynamics are indicated by specific musical notation, often in some detail. However, dynamics markings require interpretation by the performer depending on the musical context: a specific marking may correspond to a different volume between pieces or even sections of one piece. The execution of dynamics also extends beyond loudness to include changes in timbre and sometimes tempo rubato. > Dynamics are one ... ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-crescendo-whats-it-called/476811/5 "2008-12-12T03:14:46Z")
> [@Cat\_In\_A\_Top\_Hat](#): > > Every so often I hear this particular cheesy sound effect. It’s usually put in during sitcoms and the like after someone’s just said something that amounts to a twist. You’d know it if you heard it: “DUN dun DUHHHH!” \<–that one. Is there a name for it? When was it first used? It and a lot of similar music bits were done by [this guy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivor_Slaney). > [@Ponch8](#): > > Speaking of cheesy sounds, what is that seven-note tune that people often tap out when they’re knocking on a door? I’m talking about the one that goes “da da da da-da…da DA!” This is [Shave and a haircut…two bits!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shave_and_a_Haircut) ---
**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:** [December 12, 2008, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-crescendo-whats-it-called/476811/6 "2008-12-12T05:06:13Z")
> [@Cat\_In\_A\_Top\_Hat](#): > > Every so often I hear this particular cheesy sound effect. It’s usually put in during sitcoms and the like after someone’s just said something that amounts to a twist. You’d know it if you heard it: “DUN dun DUHHHH!” \<–that one. Is there a name for it? When was it first used? Like [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Kyi0WNg40)? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_In\_A\_Top\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@Cat\_In\_A\_Top\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_In_A_Top_Hat)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-crescendo-whats-it-called/476811/7 "2008-12-14T15:37:58Z")
> [@K364](#): > > Like [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Kyi0WNg40)? Kinda like that. More horns, tho’. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-crescendo-whats-it-called/476811/8 "2008-12-14T15:55:33Z")
[Classic use of the dramatic sting](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Kyi0WNg40) ---
**Author:** ![DataZak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@DataZak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataZak)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-crescendo-whats-it-called/476811/9 "2008-12-14T16:18:14Z")
Hope the OP doesn’t mind me hijacking his/her thread but I want to know whether there’s a name for what I call the “stripper tune”. It’s the tune they always play when an actress starts to strip (usually for comedic effect). It goes something like this, with horns and percussion…_dah DAH, Dun Dun, dah DAH, Dun Dun_. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-crescendo-whats-it-called/476811/10 "2008-12-14T16:29:03Z")
[The Stripper](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-9F_HWel5g&feature=related) by David Rose? ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-crescendo-whats-it-called/476811/11 "2008-12-14T16:46:40Z")
I believe the OP is referring to “Shock Horror (a)” by somebody called Dick Walter. > **[MediaFire](https://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=89053cb4e73fe9b3d2db6fb9a8902bda)** > > MediaFire is a simple to use free service that lets you put all your photos, documents, music, and video in a single place so you can access them anywhere and share them everywhere. From an album of stock musical cues: [http://www2.playkpmmusic.com/pages/viewcd/viewcd.cfm?cdnum=1905](http://www2.playkpmmusic.com/pages/viewcd/viewcd.cfm?cdnum=1905) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_In\_A\_Top\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@Cat\_In\_A\_Top\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_In_A_Top_Hat)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-crescendo-whats-it-called/476811/12 "2008-12-14T22:21:51Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > I believe the OP is referring to “Shock Horror (a)” by somebody called Dick Walter. > > [My Files](http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=89053cb4e73fe9b3d2db6fb9a8902bda) > > From an album of stock musical cues: > [http://www2.playkpmmusic.com/pages/viewcd/viewcd.cfm?cdnum=1905](http://www2.playkpmmusic.com/pages/viewcd/viewcd.cfm?cdnum=1905) that’s it! you Rock, sir and/or ma’am 🙂 ---
**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:** [December 14, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-crescendo-whats-it-called/476811/13 "2008-12-14T23:42:26Z")
I’ve been wondering the same thing as the OP. Thanks, Ximenean! ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-crescendo-whats-it-called/476811/14 "2008-12-15T00:30:25Z")
I still wonder if Mr Walter actually composed that little motif, or merely arranged a familiar musical cliché, a bit like that “Kung Fu Fighting” motif discussed in a memorable thread. Does/did he or the rights owners get paid every single time it’s used? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dramatic-crescendo-whats-it-called/476811/15 "2008-12-15T09:59:38Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > I still wonder if Mr Walter actually composed that little motif, or merely arranged a familiar musical cliché, a bit like that “Kung Fu Fighting” motif discussed in a memorable thread. Does/did he or the rights owners get paid every single time it’s used? He did indeed compose it and indeed gets royalties- that’s the whole point of stock music (well, that and to provide a source of music for media that doesn’t require licensing outside music or composing your own). In the United States, KPM cues are distributed through [Associated Production Music](http://www.apmmusic.com). Although APM offers practically any type of music imaginable, they’re probably best known for their archival cues (mostly KPM) which are often used in an ironic fashion in shows such as _Ren & Stimpy_, _SpongeBob Squarepants_, _The Daily Show_, and countless commercials- including Walter’s now-iconic three-note sting.