The accelerando
Example: The accelerando in the symphony gradually increased the tension.
Definition
"The accelerando" is a musical term indicating a gradual increase in tempo, where the speed of the music steadily quickens to create a sense of rising excitement or urgency within a piece. It is often used to build tension or lead to a climax.
Etymology
The word "accelerando" comes from the Italian verb 'accelerare,' meaning 'to accelerate.' The suffix '-ando' indicates an ongoing action in Italian, so "accelerando" literally means 'accelerating.' It entered musical terminology in the 18th century and has been used ever since to direct performers to speed up gradually.
Learn to use this word actively
"The accelerando" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - Music - (C2) - set 1", containing 99 commonly used words.
Would you like to not only understand these words, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select English as the language you want to learn.
Create a free account
