DE mit Dämpfer mute core term Support my free tools
- Abbreviation
- m. D.
How is mit Dämpfer played?
For this string entry, fit the performance mute securely on the bridge and play with it; the practical action differs from placing a brass mute in or at a bell. Put mit Dämpfer or m. D. before the muted entry with enough rest or other cover for the change. The direction is common in German and Austrian repertoire, including Mahler, and modern slide-on mutes can shorten the operation without making every change instantaneous. Keep the mute in use until ohne Dämpfer, another explicit return, or a new mute instruction changes the state.
How does mit Dämpfer sound?
Darker, thinner and veiled: the bridge's high-frequency response is damped, the upper partials fall away, and the section retreats into a soft, distant, silvery colour while keeping the body of the tone.
In context
German mit Dämpfer on strings is functionally equivalent to Italian con sordino and French avec sourdine: fit a performance mute to the bridge. Pfitzner’s score legend, Musicca and an institutional abbreviation table directly expand m. D.; the dots and spacing vary by house style, and the initials require string or orchestral context. The mute changes resonance and upper-partial balance but does not by itself prescribe a softer dynamic or one universally veiled, distant or silvery colour.
Equivalent terms
- IT con sordino
- FR avec sourdine
- EN with mute
- DA med dæmper
- DA med sordin