volume
The loudness or softness of a musical sound, controlled through dynamics.
In Depth
Volume is the perceived loudness of a sound, determined by the amplitude (energy) of the sound wave. In musical performance, volume is controlled through the dynamic markings from pianississimo (ppp, extremely soft) to fortississimo (fff, extremely loud).
In acoustic music, volume depends entirely on the performer's physical technique — how hard they strike, how fast they bow, how much air they push. In electronic and amplified music, volume can be controlled independently of physical effort through amplifiers, mixing boards, and digital processing. The loudness war in modern recording has pushed album volumes higher and higher, reducing dynamic range.
The loudest rock concert ever measured was a Who concert in 1976, which reached 126 dB — loud enough to cause pain and potentially permanent hearing damage.