Allargando and rallentando

[Hany Hayek]

What would be the difference?
They both mean slowing down.

[Tom Wright]

Not just slowing. From LiveAbout:

"The Italian musical term allargando (abbreviated allarg.) means to "widen," and is an indication to gradually broaden the tempo; a slow rallentando that retains a full, prominent tone."

I remember seeing road signs in Italy saying "Largo", which literally means "yield". In music it means generous and free, implying slower. Allargando is kind of like "yielding".

Rallentando definition:

"Rallentando (It.: ‘becoming slower’; gerund of rallentare, ‘to relax’, ‘slacken’, ‘slow down’)"

Composers sometimes want a specific attitude, not just a generic fast/slow, loud/soft directive. For example, you might see "lontano", which means "as from a distance, far away". The composer hopes you feel the same thing, as you just play softly.

[Hany Hayek]

Not just slowing. From LiveAbout:

"The Italian musical term allargando (abbreviated allarg.) means to "widen," and is an indication to gradually broaden the tempo; a slow rallentando that retains a full, prominent tone."

I remember seeing road signs in Italy saying "Largo", which literally means "yield". In music it means generous and free, implying slower. Allargando is kind of like "yielding".

Rallentando definition:

"Rallentando (It.: ‘becoming slower’; gerund of rallentare, ‘to relax’, ‘slacken’, ‘slow down’)"

Composers sometimes want a specific attitude, not just a generic fast/slow, loud/soft directive. For example, you might see "lontano", which means "as from a distance, far away". The composer hopes you feel the same thing, as you just play softly.

Thanks 😊