You may come across the symbols “rall.” or “rallentando” in piano sheet music.
This symbol indicates to “gradually slow down” the tempo during performance, which is an important instruction for creating the emotion and atmosphere of a piece.
This article will provide a detailed explanation of the meaning of “rall.” and how to interpret it in sheet music.
What is rall. (Rallentando)?
“rall.” is an abbreviation of the Italian word “rallentando,” which means to gradually slow down the tempo during performance.
Different Notations in Sheet Music
In sheet music, it may appear in the following notations:
- rall. (Most common)
- rallent. (Abbreviation)
- rallentando (Formal notation)
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Differences Between rall. and Other Tempo Markings
Tempo markings similar to rallentando include the following:
- rit. (Ritardando): A symbol for gradually slowing down the tempo. It is almost the same as rall., but rit. tends to convey a more gentle slowing down.
- ritard. (Abbreviation for Ritardando): Has the same meaning as rit.
- a tempo: Indicates to return to the original tempo after slowing down.
Differences in Usage Context
- rit. (Ritardando): Often used to naturally slow down the tempo to express emotions or the overall flow of the piece.
- rall. (Rallentando): Tends to slow down the tempo in a more dramatic and clear manner.
Conclusion
rall. (Rallentando) is an important symbol in piano performance to adjust tempo and emotional expression.
It requires the performer to naturally slow down the tempo based on their sense of the music, so practicing it thoroughly is essential.
Mastering rall. will add depth and expressiveness to your performance!