Music Q - What's it called when

[Hipster_Doofus]

…during the last verse of a hymn the organist plays substantially louder and more maestoso, indicating that we’ve come to the final verse? Is there a name for that?

 

[baltobetsy]

There are alternate harmonies written for last verses of hymns; in fact there are whole books of them. But they’re really only called last verses. I’ve been a chorister and cantor and friend of organists for 30 years and have never heard a special term for it. Now if the sopranos of the choir sing a special part above the melody, it’s called a descant, and that usually happens on the last verse. Perhaps that’s what you’re trying to think of.

Betsy

 

[Linda_Marie]

Maybe - crescendo con spirito

• meaning gradually louder with spirit
  is what you are looking for.
  library.thinkquest.org/2791/MDOPNSCR.htm

Thinking a little more about it - maybe Grande Finale is what you are thinking about.

 

[Hipster_Doofus]

That sounds about like it, Linda Marie. Thanks.

 

[Michael_Welter]

It could also be called Fortisimo (loud), although that could refer to any loud part in a song, not just at the end.

 

[SMHW]

I don’t suppose you are referring to the expression “pulling out the stops”?

Sometimes the organist will switch keys for a final verse. That can sometimes make the music seem louder even if it is not.

 

[LilyM]

I was thinking more rallentando (I think that’s the correct expression for slowing down) which is often done as well.

 

[DaveBj]

I’ve always just thought of it as “organist showing off.” I usually sing harmony, and I dislike it when the organist’s harmony is suddenly different from the harmony that was originally written for the hymn.

(Just me being a crotchety old geezer.)