Dorico categorizes dynamics into four groups.
Immediate dynamics
Immediate dynamics apply to the note to which they are attached until the next dynamic marking, and indicate an immediate change from any previous dynamic. Immediate dynamics include dynamic symbols, such as or , and qualifying text, such as subito or molto.
Gradual dynamics and hairpins
Gradual dynamics are often shown as hairpins but can also be shown using text. In Dorico, you can show gradual dynamic text in the following ways:
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cresc. or dim.: abbreviated text with no continuation line
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cresc... or dim...: abbreviated text with a dotted continuation line
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cre-scen-do or di-mi-nuen-do: the full word spread out across the duration of the gradual dynamic
Gradual dynamics can also have qualifying text, such as poco, molto, poco a poco, and niente.
In Dorico, a hairpin can be shown as messa di voce, which shows a pair of hairpins. In some cases, this is easier than having separate lines for each half of the pair.
Force/Intensity of attack
These dynamics, such as and , indicate that a note has a stronger attack than is usually expected for the dynamic, similar to an accent articulation.
Combined dynamics
Combined dynamics, such as or –, specify a sudden change of dynamic.
You can create custom combined dynamics in Dorico, and control the intensity of each dynamic in the pair, in the Combined Dynamics section of the Dynamics panel. For example, you can make dynamics such as , –, and .
