Definition of rallentando in English:
rallentando
adjective & adverb ˌralənˈtandəʊ
Music (especially as a direction) with a gradual decrease of speed.
nounPlural rallentandos, Plural rallentandi ˌralənˈtandəʊ
Music A gradual decrease in speed.
the passage is marked by extravagant rallentandos
mass noun the music moves on without rallentando or pause
Example sentencesExamples
- The slowing down in music, referred to as rallentando, was compared to slow motion in film.
- Distortions such as the massive rallentando that brings the first movement to a close are the sorts of things Argenta would have worked out of his system if he had reached his 60s.
- This is one of the least metronomic recordings I know, and yet the concerto holds its shape because a basic pulse has been maintained, in spite of the accelerandi and rallentandi.
- But Bacon's version of the piece on this disc, with its built in rallentandos, is charming and convincing.
- These are done with all kinds of rubatos, rallentandos, underlining, and overacting.
Origin
Italian, literally 'slowing down', from the verb rallentare.