Rubato
/ruˈbɑːtoʊ/noun
A musical term indicating a stretching or compressing of tempo to enhance expressiveness.
The pianist played the piece with a beautiful rubato, allowing the music to flow more freely.
Often appears as...
- expressive rubato
- subtle rubato
Usage tips
Neutral
expressive tempo, free rhythm, interpretative timing
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Understanding in Music
Rubato is significant in performance as it allows personal expression.
Many skilled musicians use rubato to convey emotions differently depending on the composition.
Pro Tip 2/3Literary Application
Rubato can also describe fluidity in language and storytelling.
A written piece can have 'rubato-like' quality when the narrative flows without strict structure.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Depth
Using rubato in performance is about conveying feelings rather than sticking to a strict tempo.
Musicians often feel that rubato gives a piece its emotional depth.
Compare with
adagiosyncopationstaccatolegato
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