Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

morendo

adverb

moh-REN-doh

Definition

A musical term indicating a gradual decrease in loudness or a softening of the sound until the note is almost imperceptible.

Examples

In the final movement of the symphony, the strings played morendo, evoking a sense of calm and stillness.
The soloist ended the aria with a morendo, leaving the audience in quiet reflection.
The composer wrote the last bars with a morendo to symbolize the fading memory of the character.

Meaning

The term ‘morendo’ is used in music to instruct the performer to play or sing a passage that fades away slowly, creating a poignant and expressive conclusion.