Expression & tempo
Ritardando and accelerando
Ritardando is a gradual slowing of tempo and accelerando a gradual speeding up, both written as abbreviations with a dotted line showing how far they extend.
Ritardando and rallentando are used almost interchangeably, though rallentando traditionally implies a broader, heavier slowing. Both are cancelled by a tempo, which restores the previous speed. Ritenuto, confusingly similar in abbreviation, means an immediate drop in tempo rather than a gradual one.
The common performance failure is slowing too early and having nowhere left to go. Like a crescendo, a ritardando needs its shape distributed across its full written length, with the largest change saved for the final beat or two.
Related terms
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