Niente hairpins

Niente markings at the start/end of gradual dynamics indicate that the dynamic either increases from, or decreases to, silence.

This effect works very well on strings and singers with vowels, but it cannot always be played literally. For example, singers with words beginning with consonants cannot begin from silence, nor can reed and brass instruments, as they have to achieve a certain air pressure before a note sounds.

Niente markings can be shown in two ways: as a circle at the end of a hairpin, and as text directly before or after a hairpin. You can input both types of niente markings in Dorico for iPad using the dynamics popover and by clicking niente in the Gradual Dynamics section of the Dynamics panel.

Tip

You can turn existing hairpins into niente hairpins by selecting them and clicking niente in the Gradual Dynamics section of the Dynamics panel, or by activating Niente in the Dynamics group of the Properties panel.

Example

Figure 1. A niente shown as Circle on hairpin
Figure 2. A niente shown as Text