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Composers frequently provide indications that specify how loudly or how softly a performer is to play or sing which affect the volume of the music. Different levels of volume in music are notated with dynamic markings. Just as with tempo markings, dynamic markings are frequently based on Italian words. Some of the common dynamic signs are included in Table 1-2.

Table 1-2 Common Dynamic Symbols

Symbol	Italian	English
ff	fortissimo	very loud
f	forte	loud
mf	mezzo forte	moderately loud
mp	mezzo piano	moderately soft
p	piano	soft
pp	pianissimo	very soft
<	crescendo	gradually louder
>	decrescendo	gradually softer

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