ritardando – Definition in music

Definition of the Italian term ritardando in music:

gradually slowing down
delaying

Language

Italian

Abbreviation

rit.

Alt. abbreviation

ritard.

Synonyms

(1) rallentando(1) slentando

Italian musical terms that include ritardando:

diminuendo e ritardando – gradually softer and slower
molto ritardando – very slowed down
più ritardando – more gradually slower
pochissimo ritardando – slowing down as little as possible
poco a poco ritardando – gradually slowing down
poco ritardando – a little slowed down
quasi ritardando – almost slowing down
ritardando al fine – gradually slowing down until the end
ritardando assai – gradually slowing down a lot
ritardando e diminuendo – gradually slower and softer
ritardando e perdendosi – gradually slowing down and vanishing
ritardando molto – gradually slowing down a lot
sempre ritardando – always slowing down
senza ritardando – without slowing down
tranquillo e ritardando – peaceful and slowing down
un poco ritardando – gradually slowing down a little

Music scores that include ritardando:

Béla Bartók: Suite for Piano (1916) Page 1
Claude Debussy: Estampes (1903) Page 1
Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (1847) Page 1
Frédéric Chopin: Nocturne in C-sharp minor (1830) Page 1
Johannes Brahms: 6 Klavierstücke (1893) Page 1
John Stepan Zamecnik: Ballet Sentimental (1917) Page 1
Ludwig van Beethoven: Für Elise (1810) Page 1
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 (1804‑1806) Page 1
Robert Schumann: Symphonic Etudes (1834) Page 1
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 (1900‑1901) Page 1

Italian musical terms related to ritardando:

indugiando – delaying, retarding
ritardare – to slow down...
ritardato – delayed, slackened, held back