RITARDANDO Meaning and
Definition
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Ritardando is an Italian musical term that is primarily used as an instruction in sheet music to indicate a gradual decrease in tempo. Derived from the verb "ritardare," which means "to delay" or "to slow down," ritardando is often abbreviated as "rit." and is commonly understood by musicians and composers.
In practice, ritardando is performed by gradually slowing down the speed of the music, typically at the end of a phrase or a section. It allows for a more expressive and dramatic interpretation of the music, enhancing the emotional impact of the composition. However, the precise tempo decrease is open to interpretation, and the degree of slowing down may vary depending on the performer's judgment and the context of the piece.
Ritardando is often notated in sheet music using various symbols or words to indicate the desired effect. Some common markings include "ritard.," "ritardando," "rall.," or "slowing down." These indications inform the musician that they should gradually relax the tempo and perhaps add a sense of freedom in timing, creating a more relaxed and introspective musical atmosphere.
Overall, ritardando is an important tool for musicians to add musical expression and nuance to their performances, allowing for a controlled and deliberate deceleration in tempo, bringing emotional depth and poignancy to the music.
Common Misspellings for RITARDANDO
- eitardando
- ditardando
- fitardando
- titardando
- 5itardando
- 4itardando
- rutardando
- rjtardando
- rktardando
- rotardando
- r9tardando
- r8tardando
- rirardando
- rifardando
- rigardando
- riyardando
- ri6ardando
- ri5ardando
- ritzrdando
Etymology of RITARDANDO
The word "ritardando" originates from the Italian language and can be broken down into two components: "ritard" and the suffix "-ando".
- "Ritard" comes from the Italian verb "ritardare", which means "to delay" or "to slow down". It is derived from the Latin word "retardare", with "re-" meaning "back" and "tardare" meaning "to loiter" or "to be slow". In musical terms, "ritard" refers to slowing down the tempo of a piece of music.
- The suffix "-ando" is a gerundive form in Italian, which is often used to indicate the present participle or a continuous action. It is commonly used in musical terms to indicate a specific manner of performance or playing style.
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