Agogic (music)
Agogik (from ancient Greek ἄγειν ágein , German '(to) lead, (guide); German: act: drive, act, represent' ) describes the art of slightly changing the tempo (sometimes also rhythmic figures) in the context of a musical Lecture to make it lively and expressive.
General
The teaching of such free tempo changes is called agogic after Hugo Riemann . Riemann introduced the term into musical language in 1884.
The changes are outside the mechanical tempo values ( metronome ) and are part of the musical interpretation by the conductor or soloist . This applies above all to the finest tempo nuances within musical phrases in melodic or harmonic climaxes, which expressively structure and enliven the performance. So great to interval jumps a little more time than smaller steps, and harmonic suspensions or the first sound of a two-bond are often stretched a little (see. Rubato ).
The composer can indicate larger changes in tempo by means of execution instructions in the score , e.g. B.
- accel. ( accelerando ) - getting faster
- string. ( stringendo ) - hurrying, getting faster
- ritard. or rit. ( ritardando ) - slowing down
- rall. ( rallentando ) - gradually slowing down
- riten. or rit. ( ritenuto ) - holding back in time
- smorz. ( smorzando ) - dying
- più (or meno ) mosso - more agitated (or less agitated)
possibly also with typical additions such as: poco ('something'), poco a poco ( 'little by little') , or ma non troppo ('not too much').
The artistically induced tempo changes can go hand in hand with the changes in dynamics . Both together form the core of the performing arts of a musician and their effective application proves his artistic maturity of spirit and feeling. Often these larger tempo changes lead from a starting tempo (possibly indicated by metronome markings) to a new tempo. In many cases, however, the acceleration of the tempo is a matter of interpretation .
Accelerando
Accelerando (Italian for 'getting faster') and Stringendo describe the gradual acceleration of the tempo during a piece.
Ritardando
The opposite of the accelerando is the ritardando (Italian for ' slowing down ') or rallentando (also decelerando ) and describes the gradual slowing down of the tempo during a piece.
Ritenuto
In contrast to the ritardando, the ritenuto (Italian for 'held back') is an abrupt slowdown in tempo.
The fact that both ritardando and ritenuto can be abbreviated with rit. Leads to different interpretive versions.
