Dal Niente
Definition. From nothing — emerging from silence, the starting point of a crescendo.
Detailed Explanation
Dal niente is Italian for ‘from nothing’. As a dynamic instruction it specifies that the music should emerge from silence — beginning below the threshold of audibility and growing into perceptible sound.
The marking is the inverse of al niente. Where al niente fades to nothing, dal niente emerges from nothing. It is typically combined with a crescendo or hairpin: cresc. dal niente means ‘crescendo from nothing’. The hairpin opens from a point, and the music materializes out of silence as it grows.
Dal niente is a powerful structural device. It allows composers to begin a section without an audible attack — the music seems to coalesce out of the air. On strings, the bow approaches the string without engaging until the desired moment; on piano, the key descends gradually until tone emerges; on winds, breath builds before pitch is set.
Etymology
Italian, ‘from the nothing’ — dal (‘from the’) + niente (‘nothing’).
In Practice
Begin below audibility. The first audible moment must come gradually, not as an attack. Listeners should not be able to identify the precise moment the sound began.
Notable Examples
- 20th-century composers — Various (common in modern atmospheric writing)
- Lachenmann — Various (extensive dal niente entries)
Related Terms
Opposite Of
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Dal Niente mean in music?
From nothing — emerging from silence, the starting point of a crescendo.
Where does the word Dal Niente come from?
Italian, ‘from the nothing’ — dal (‘from the’) + niente (‘nothing’).
How is Dal Niente performed in practice?
Begin below audibility. The first audible moment must come gradually, not as an attack. Listeners should not be able to identify the precise moment the sound began.
What musical terms are related to Dal Niente?
Related terms include: Niente, Al Niente, Crescendo.
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