Alleggerito

Alleggerito is a musical term of Italian origin derived from alleggerire, meaning to lighten. In score notation, alleggerito functions as an expressive directive rather than a tempo mark, guiding performers to render a passage with a lighter weight, touch, and tone.

The marking directs players to lighten the texture and articulation, aiming for greater clarity and buoyancy. It typically involves a lighter attack, reduced weight in the phrase, and often a more transparent or delicate overall character. Alleggerito does not by itself specify a tempo change, though the lighter character it prescribes can influence the pacing and feel of the music.

Usage and context vary, but alleggerito appears in a range of repertoire, including piano and chamber music as well as orchestral scores. It is relatively uncommon compared with more standard indications like allegro or legato, and when it does appear it serves to contrast with a previously heavier or more intense passage, or to indicate a stylistic shift toward a more carefree or delicate character.

Related terms include leggero (light) and leggierezza (delicacy or lightness). In practice, performers interpret alleggerito in relation to the surrounding markings, aiming for a lighter, more transparent sound without altering the fundamental tempo unless the broader context suggests otherwise.