rilassata

Rilassata is a musical term derived from the Italian rilassato, meaning relaxed. It denotes a stylistic or expressive direction in performance, signaling that a passage should be played with a relaxed, singing quality rather than with rigidity or agitation. The marking is most often encountered in older scores and in some Romantic-era editions.

Usage in notation: Rilassata can refer to tempo, mood, or phrasing. It is less common than standard tempo terms, and may appear alone or in combination with other directives such as dolce or cantabile. In practice, performers interpret rilassata as a flexible tempo with smooth legato, a gentle dynamic contour, and a lack of forced emphasis.

Origins and language: The term comes from the Italian verb rilassare ("to relax") and belongs to the long tradition of Italian expressive markings in music. Because it is not standardized across scores, its exact sense can vary with context and editor.

Relation to other markings: Rilassata is related to, but distinct from, rubato and cantabile. While rubato implies deliberate tempo deviation by the performer, rilassata signals a general musical attitude—relaxed, unhurried, and lyrical—rather than a strict metrical shift.

See also: rilassato, rubato, cantabile, tempo marking.