Subito

Subito means "suddenly" or "immediately". It makes a change instant instead of gradual, and it most often appears with a dynamic: subito p (suddenly soft), subito f (suddenly loud), subito pp. It can be shortened to sub., and it may come before or after the dynamic: subito p and p subito mean the same.

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Subito p after a crescendo

The classic use is a crescendo that builds toward a climax and then, instead of arriving at f, drops at once to p. Without the word, you might soften gradually or start the new phrase a little louder; subito tells you the contrast must be instant and complete. Beethoven loved this effect, often writing a crescendo followed directly by a p, and players treat it as a subito even when the word is missing.

Other uses

• Subito f: a sudden loud entry, often after a soft passage.
• Subito meno mosso or subito più mosso: an immediate change of tempo.
• Attacca subito: go on to the next movement immediately, with no pause. Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata ends its first movement attacca subito il seguente, "go on immediately to the next" (see our Moonlight Sonata study).

Playing subito p

The hard part is the moment of change. After a crescendo, the hand and arm are full of energy; to play the next note softly, lighten the arm before the note, not on it. Practice the two notes on either side of the change slowly, until you can switch levels without a gap in the rhythm. A tiny breath is acceptable in some styles, but the softness itself must be sudden.

To practice it, play a phrase on one rung of the Dynamic Ladder, then start the next phrase two rungs lower with no gap in the rhythm.