Terms Affecting the Tempo and Time-Beating

Accelerando

Gradually increasing the tempo.

Ad libitum

At liberty; take time, permit liberties here

Affrettando

Excitedly, increasing the tempo.

A punto

Exactly in rhythm

Con alcuna licenza

With some license; not perfectly rhythmic

Etwas langsamer

Somewhat slower.

Im Takt

In tempo

Langsam, Langsamer

Slow, slower.

Mässig

Moderato

Pressando

Hurrying, pressing forward.

Rythmé

Rhythmic feeling emphasized

Rubato

Varying the note values within the rhythm, not strictly as written

Stretto

Condensing, accelerating the tempo. (Do not confuse with the stretto of the fugue form, which is only a condensing of the distance between subject and answer.)

Stringendo

Accelerating the tempo.

Suivez

Follow; usually refers to following the soloist who may take some liberties with the tempo for expression.

Tacet

Silent; usually means the particular instrument does not play in that movement of the work.

Taglio

A cut.

Takt

The time, the measure, rhythmically; sometimes, an accenting of the first beat in the measure.

Tempo rubato

Not strictly in tempo.

Zurückhalten

Literally, holding back. Ritard.