Fine
Definition. End — a marking indicating where to end the piece during a D.C. or D.S. repeat.
Detailed Explanation
Fine, Italian for ‘end’, is a marking placed in the score to indicate where the piece should end during a da capo or dal segno repeat. On the first pass through the music, the fine marking is ignored; on the repeat (after D.C. or D.S.), the music ends at the fine marking rather than continuing.
The marking is essential for ABA-form pieces where the repeat would otherwise continue past the desired ending. By placing fine at the end of the A section, the composer ensures that on the repeat (D.C. al fine), the music stops at the close of A rather than continuing into B again.
Without the fine marking, the performer would have no way to know where to stop the repeat. The combination D.C. al fine + fine marking is one of the most common formal devices in classical music.
Etymology
Italian, ‘end’, from Latin finis.
In Practice
Note the location of fine on the first pass through the music. On the repeat, stop at fine rather than continuing. The marking is not active on the first pass.
Notable Examples
- Most composers — ABA-form pieces (ubiquitous formal marking)
Related Terms
Opposite Of
Frequently Asked Questions
Fine 在音乐中是什么意思？
End — a marking indicating where to end the piece during a D.C. or D.S. repeat.
Fine 这个词从哪里来？
Italian, ‘end’, from Latin finis.
Fine 在实际演奏中怎么处理？
Note the location of fine on the first pass through the music. On the repeat, stop at fine rather than continuing. The marking is not active on the first pass.
有哪些音乐术语与 Fine 相关？
相关术语包括：Da Capo, D.C. al Fine, Coda。
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