The ritardando
Example: The ritardando at the end of the symphony created a dramatic pause.
Definition
"The ritardando" is a musical term indicating a gradual slowing down of the tempo. It is often used by composers to create expressive or dramatic effects, guiding musicians to decrease their speed progressively within a passage or toward the end of a piece.
Etymology
"The ritardando" comes from the Italian word 'ritardando,' which means 'slowing down.' It derives from the verb 'ritardare,' meaning 'to delay or slow.' Did you know that Italian terms dominate musical notation because Italy was the birthplace of much early Western classical music?
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"The ritardando" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - Music - (C2) - set 1", containing 99 commonly used words.
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