Which term denotes free adjustment of tempo for expressive purposes?

Which term denotes free adjustment of tempo for expressive purposes?

• A. A Tempo
• B. Rubato
• C. Accelerando
• D. Ritardando

Answer: (B)

Rubato denotes free adjustment of tempo for expressive purposes. It lets singers bend the beat—slowing a touch here, speeding a touch there—without sticking to a strict metronomic value, shaping the phrase to convey emotion. This is different from gradual tempo changes like accelerando (speeding up) or ritardando (slowing down), which are deliberate, measured shifts across a section. A tempo, on the other hand, is a directive to return to the original tempo after such expressive freedom, bringing the music back to its steady pace. In choir work, rubato adds human warmth to phrasing while the conductor helps keep the ensemble aligned.

Rubato denotes free adjustment of tempo for expressive purposes. It lets singers bend the beat—slowing a touch here, speeding a touch there—without sticking to a strict metronomic value, shaping the phrase to convey emotion. This is different from gradual tempo changes like accelerando (speeding up) or ritardando (slowing down), which are deliberate, measured shifts across a section. A tempo, on the other hand, is a directive to return to the original tempo after such expressive freedom, bringing the music back to its steady pace. In choir work, rubato adds human warmth to phrasing while the conductor helps keep the ensemble aligned.