al niente

adverb

Indicating in music notation that the dynamics fade to nothing.

OriginItalian al niente →
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Meanings

adverbal niente (not comparable)
  1. not comparableentertainmentIndicating in music notation that the dynamics fade to nothing.

    The Prelude ends ambiguously, in that the two crotchet rests in bar 26 act as a fermata of indeterminate length as the resonance sustained by the open pedal fades al niente.

    2016, Mine Doğantan-Dack, Artistic Practice as Research in Music: Theory, Criticism, Practice
    2 more examples

    I would, anyhow, put my money on Nunc Dimittis with its atmospheric mood and beautifully original ending where, after the impact of a robust Gloria a solo soprano quietly reiterates the opening phrase senza misura with the rest of the choir singing Amens al niente on open fifths.

    1970, English Church Music, page 45

    There is a strong feeling of renunciation, but this is softened somewhat by her enigmatic smile which implies a certain contentment and satisfaction, and the music dies away al niente.

    2005, Michael Halliwell, Opera and the Novel: The Case of Henry James

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
niente

Origin

  1. Italianal niente
  2. Italianal niente
  3. Englishal niente

Borrowed from Italian al niente.

More words from Italian

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

al niente. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/al%20niente

MLA

“al niente.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/al%20niente. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “al niente,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/al%20niente.

Source: al niente on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.