accelerando

American  

[ak-sel-uh-ran-doh, -rahn-, aht-che-le-rahn-daw] / ækˌsɛl əˈræn doʊ, -ˈrɑn-, ɑtˌtʃɛ lɛˈrɑn dɔ /

adverb

Music.

1. gradually increasing in speed.

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accelerando British  

/ ækˌsɛləˈrændəʊ /

adjective

1. (to be performed) with increasing speed

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noun

1. an increase in speed

Usage

What does accelerando mean? Accelerando describes a tempo that is gradually increasing in speed.In music, accelerando tells a musician to play increasingly faster. Typically, music’s speed, or tempo, is denoted in beats per minute (BPM). When the BPM changes, the tempo of the music instantly changes. But when a tempo change is marked with an accelerando command, it will gradually increase over the notes indicated rather than changing instantly.Accelerando commands are often used in music to create a sense of urgency, excitement, or increasing emotion as the tempo increases.Example: We still need to work on that accelerando section because some of the instruments are dragging.

Etymology

Origin of accelerando

1835–45; < Italian < Latin accelerandus, gerundive of accelerāre to speed up. See accelerate

Example Sentences

I’m not saying they can’t do it, but I am saying that they have a lot of work ahead of them and it’s unclear if it’s a priority or not.” accelerando Well put.

From Forbes • May 16, 2012

An expanse of heads nodded rhythmically until a galloping accelerando brought the audience to their feet.

From Time Magazine Archive

As exhilarating as the final accelerando of Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony were the dancelike body movements with which Ozawa conducted it.

From Time Magazine Archive

Tape recorder in hand, he simply camps at the seashore or in a rain forest, and lets Mother Nature herself compose an accelerando of breaking waves or a pizzicato polka of storm effects.

From Time Magazine Archive

Or we can gradually increase or decrease our tempo, creating accelerando and rallentando effects.

From Irradiations; Sand and Spray by Fletcher, John Gould