Ritardando and Accelerando
Ritardando means 'gradually slower' and is often used in connection with endings, as here at the end of Amazing Grace. In the sheet notes ritardando is called 'rit'. In 'Deep River' there is a ritardando in the B-section just before the repetition of the A-section at the end of the song's climax.
| Amazing Grace (ending) | Deep River (from B section to A) |
Accelerando is the opposite of ritardando and means' gradually faster. Accelerando is not used as often as ritardando. You can use accelerando to intensify the musical expressions, such as in the song 'The Drunken Sailor', which has a accelerando in the verse while the chorus is kept in the same speed throughout. In sheet notes accelerando is indicated 'acc'.
| The Drunken Sailor |