allordinario

All'ordinario is an Italian musical directive used in scores to indicate that a performer should resume the normal tempo and meter after a deviation. The phrase literally translates to "to the ordinary [manner]." It is commonly applied after sections marked with tempo changes (such as ritardando or accelerando) or after a temporary shift to a different meter, signaling a return to the piece’s regular pace and rhythm.

In practice, all'ordinario directs a return to the tempo ordinario, or original tempo and meter as notated in the score. While it can function similarly to a tempo marking like a tempo or tempo primo, its emphasis is on restoring the ordinary structure of the music rather than merely the speed alone. The exact effect depends on the context and editorial conventions.

Spelling and usage: the standard form is all'ordinario, reflecting its Italian origin. It appears in music from the Baroque through modern periods and is found in many language editions of scores, sometimes translated as "in ordinary time" or "back to ordinary tempo." See also a tempo, tempo primo, ritardando, accelerando, alla breve.