ritardando

Ritardando, abbreviated rit. or ritard., is a musical term indicating a gradual slowing of the tempo. It comes from the Italian ritardare, meaning to delay. The marking directs performers to decelerate smoothly rather than halt or rush, often leading back to the original tempo.

Notation and usage: Ritardando is typically placed above the staff at the point where the tempo should begin to slow. It may be accompanied by a line or followed by a tempo designation such as a tempo or tempo I to indicate return to the initial speed. Some scores use rallentando (rall.) as a near synonym, though performers may interpret rallentando as a more gradual or extended deceleration. The exact rate and duration of the slowdown are usually left to the performer, within the stylistic context of the piece.

Performance practice: A ritardando is commonly used at the end of a phrase or passage to convey expressive breathing room or drama, and it is often followed by a return to the established tempo. In some styles, the slowdown may be shaped by rubato—flexible timing within the beat—while in others it is more strictly controlled. The term is widely employed across eras, from baroque adaptations to classical, romantic, and contemporary repertoire, though stylistic expectations for how a ritardando unfolds can vary with period and composer.

Relation to other terms: Ritardando is related to rallentando and allargando, which also involve slowing the tempo, sometimes with a broader, expanding feel. The concept remains a general directive for tempo modification rather than a specific metronomic value.