rallentando
Gradually becoming slower
Rallentando is a musical direction indicating a gradual slowing of tempo.
It appears in sheet music, usually abbreviated as *rall.*, to tell performers to ease back the pace.
The term is Italian, like most musical directions.
It's essentially synonymous with ritardando, though some musicians distinguish between them: The passage builds to fortissimo, then rallentando into the final chord.
Decreasing in velocity
- broadeningIncreasing in extent
- rubatoElastic musical timing
- adagioSlow musical tempo
- largoVery slow tempo
andante · morendo · tempo · pacing · deceleration · gradual · measured
Manner of expressing something
- nuanceSlight shade of difference
- dynamicsStudy of forces
- emotionComplex psychological state
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
cantabile · dolce · tranquillo · pianissimo · diminuendo · decrescendo · fading · waning
slowing
Decreasing in velocity
- broadeningIncreasing in extent
- rubatoElastic musical timing
- adagioSlow musical tempo
largo · andante · morendo · tempo · pacing · deceleration · gradual · measured
phrasing
Manner of expressing something
sensitivity · cantabile · dolce · tranquillo · pianissimo · diminuendo · decrescendo · fading · waning · gentling
score
Numerical standing in competition
- markingIndicating with symbols
- instructionGuidance for action
- fermataSustained note symbol
coda · attacca · doppio · molto · poco · fine · conductor · baton · maestro · interpretation