Topmusicanswers
Diminution is a form of embellishment or melodic variation in which a long note or a series of long notes is divided into shorter, usually melodic, values, as in the similar practices of breaking or division in England, passaggio in Italy, double in France and glosas or diferencias in Spain.
- What is augmentation and diminution?
- What is the opposite of diminution in music?
- What is diminution in minimalism?
What is augmentation and diminution?
Augmentation is simply the lengthening or rhythmic values, and diminution is the shortening of rhythmic values.
What is the opposite of diminution in music?
A melody or series of notes is augmented if the lengths of the notes are prolonged; augmentation is thus the opposite of diminution, where note values are shortened. A melody originally consisting of four quavers (eighth notes) for example, is augmented if it later appears with four crotchets (quarter notes) instead.
What is diminution in minimalism?
Diminution and augmentation are rhythmic devices that are often used in 20th century music, especially in minimalist and serialist music. Diminution is when a musical idea is repeated with the note values halved - so the notes are shorter.
