accelerando
A gradual increase in tempo.
In Depth
Accelerando is one of the most common tempo changes in music. Composers use it to build excitement or drive toward a climax, and it appears in everything from symphonies to film scores. The marking is often abbreviated as accel. in sheet music. In practice, a good accelerando feels natural rather than mechanical. Performers must coordinate carefully in ensemble playing to speed up together. Beethoven and Rossini were particularly fond of using accelerando to create dramatic tension in their orchestral works.
Rossini used accelerando so often in his operas that the technique became known as the Rossini crescendo, though it combines speeding up with getting louder.
Related Terms
More in Tempo
Browse alla tempo
Return to the original tempo after a deviation.
adagio
A slow, leisurely tempo, typically 66-76 BPM.
agitato
Agitated; restless and hurried in character.
alla breve
Cut time; two half-note beats per measure, giving a faster feel.
allegretto
A moderately fast tempo, slightly slower than allegro.
allegro
A fast, lively tempo, typically 120-156 BPM.
andante
A walking pace tempo, typically 76-108 BPM.
andantino
Slightly faster than andante, though historically debated.