Definition

1. Adjective: Gradually increasing in tempo.

   • Used to describe a musical passage that is to be played with a gradual increase in speed.

2. Adverb: With increasing speed.

   • Used as a direction in sheet music to instruct the performer to play with a gradual acceleration.

3. Noun: A gradually increasing tempo of music.

   • Refers to the musical effect or the passage itself where the tempo accelerates.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The accelerando passage created a sense of building excitement.
  • The composer marked the final bars as accelerando.

• Adverb:

  • The conductor signaled for the orchestra to play accelerando.
  • She performed the finale accelerando, as indicated.

• Noun:

  • The piece features a dramatic accelerando toward the end.
  • My ear will not accept such violent accelerandos.

Advanced Usage

• As a musical directive: "Accelerando" is a standard Italian term used in musical notation. It is often abbreviated as "accel." on a score.

  • The score reads "accel." at measure 32, leading to the climax.

• In figurative language: While primarily a musical term, it can be used metaphorically to describe any process that gradually gains speed or intensity.

  • The campaign entered its final phase with an accelerando of activity.

Variants and Related Words

• Accelerate (verb): To increase in speed or rate.
  • The car began to accelerate down the highway.
• Acceleration (noun): The act or process of accelerating; increase of speed or velocity.
  • The acceleration of the rocket was breathtaking.

Synonyms

• Stringendo (adv., adj.): A musical direction meaning "pressing" or "becoming faster," often with a sense of urgency. (Note: While similar, "stringendo" can imply a more urgent or compressed acceleration compared to the steady increase of "accelerando.")
• Increasing in tempo (phrase): A descriptive phrase for the same effect.

Antonyms

• Rallentando (adj., adv., n.): Gradually decreasing in tempo.
• Ritardando (adj., adv., n.): Gradually slowing down.
• Decelerando (adj., adv., n.): Gradually reducing speed. (Less common in musical terminology than "rallentando" or "ritardando.")

Adjective

1. gradually increasing in tempo

Adverb

1. with increasing speed
   • here you must play accelerando

Noun

1. a gradually increasing tempo of music
   • my ear will not accept such violent accelerandos