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The Common Tone · Visual Language of Music
rit.

Ritardando (rit.)

also called: rit. · ritard.

An instruction to slow the tempo down gradually.

What you do

From where the marking appears, ease the tempo down smoothly — keep slowing until a new tempo marking or 'a tempo' cancels it.

In context

Ritardando (rit.) — example A four-measure melody in three-four time. Above the third measure the word rit. appears in italics; above the final measure, a tempo. The slowing governs the marked span and the original speed returns at a tempo. Engraved by Verovio 6.2.1-8d42439 rit. a tempo
The slowdown begins at “rit.” and continues until “a tempo” cancels it — the marking governs a span, not a moment.

See also

a-tempo · accelerando · ritenuto

For specialists

Record status: draft — verification pending (bookshelf locators + chord-symbol authority; OQ-1 blocks the slice gate)