What does calando mean in music?

calando means "getting softer and slower".

What type of musical term is calando?

calando is a dynamics term — see the Theory Practice glossary for the rest of the dynamics word list.

What grade is calando tested in?

calando first appears at Grade 5 in ABRSM, AMEB and Trinity music theory exams, and stays in the syllabus for every grade above that.

Music theory · Musical terms · Dynamics

calando — meaning in music

calando is a musical term meaning getting softer and slower. It is a dynamics marking, first tested at Grade 5 in ABRSM, AMEB and Trinity music theory exams. From that grade on, every written paper expects you to know it on sight.

Definition

getting softer and slower

DynamicsFirst tested: Grade 5

Translations

French	devenant de plus en plus doux
German	wird immer weicher und langsamer
Italian	diventando sempre più morbido e lento
Spanish	volviéndose más suave y más lento
Chinese	变得更柔和、更缓慢

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All dynamics terms

calando crescendo decrescendo diminuendo forte fortissimo mezza voce mezzo mezzo forte mezzo piano morendo perdendosi pianissimo piano sforzando smorzando sotto voce