Prepare for the NYSTCE Music Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions, featuring hints and explanations. Get ready to excel in your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which term indicates a mood of dying away by gradually decreasing tempo and volume?

Calando signals a fade-out in sound, with tempo and dynamics gradually diminishing to create a dying-away effect. This Italian term comes from calare, meaning to fade away, and when seen in a score it guides the performer to slow a touch and play softer, producing a sighing, dissolving finish. By contrast, the other terms point to different affects: affrettando means quickening, allargando suggests broadening the tempo and texture, and ondulé implies a gentle, undulating phrasing. Calando is the best choice for conveying that gradual dimming of sound.

Calando signals a fade-out in sound, with tempo and dynamics gradually diminishing to create a dying-away effect. This Italian term comes from calare, meaning to fade away, and when seen in a score it guides the performer to slow a touch and play softer, producing a sighing, dissolving finish. By contrast, the other terms point to different affects: affrettando means quickening, allargando suggests broadening the tempo and texture, and ondulé implies a gentle, undulating phrasing. Calando is the best choice for conveying that gradual dimming of sound.