decrescendo

A decrescendo is the opposite of a crescendo — a gradual decrease in volume. It is marked by a closing hairpin (> shape) or the abbreviation decresc. The term is interchangeable with diminuendo, though some musicians consider diminuendo to imply a slightly more dramatic fading. Effective use of decrescendo requires control and patience. Orchestral musicians must coordinate their volume reduction carefully to maintain ensemble balance during a fade. Composers use decrescendos to create a sense of distance, calm, or dissolution — the end of Holst's The Planets famously fades away with a choir singing behind a closed door.