What does "allargando" indicate in a musical score?

The term "allargando" indicates to the performer that the music should be played in a broadening manner, which typically encompasses a gradual slowing down of the tempo. This direction is often used to enhance the emotional impact of a passage, allowing for a more pronounced expression in the music. The idea is to create a feeling of spaciousness or grandeur as the tempo slows, often adding weight to the music at key moments.

In the context of musical interpretation, allargando serves as an expressive tool, allowing the musician to convey a shift in mood, particularly during climactic or significant sections of a piece. This sense of slowing down is not merely a technical instruction; it also has a dramatic effect that can deeply influence how the music is perceived by the listener.

Other terms in music indicate different actions: accelerating tempo would suggest becoming faster, while changing key signatures refers to modulation, and playing softer would involve dynamics rather than tempo. Thus, the definition encompasses the broader stylistic implications of music performance as well.