Rubato: A musical expression technique allowing slight fluctuations in tempo, giving the performer freedom to enhance emotional depth by stretching or compressing timing within the written rhythm.

Context and Significance

Rubato is crucial for adding emotional expressiveness in music, primarily used in classical genres. It allows performers to convey more personal interpretations of a piece. This technique is common in piano and vocal music, where subtle tempo variations can emphasize lyrical and melodic lines, enriching the overall performance.

Historical Background

The term “rubato” originates from the Italian word meaning “stolen time,” reflecting the technique’s essence of borrowing time from one note to give to another. It gained prominence during the Romantic era, becoming a hallmark of composers like Chopin and Liszt, who valued expressive freedom in their works.

Examples

Chopin’s Nocturnes often employ rubato to enhance their lyrical quality, allowing pianists to bring out the emotional nuances of the music. In Liszt’s piano compositions, rubato is used to create dramatic contrasts and highlight virtuosic passages, offering performers interpretive flexibility.

Related Terms

Tempo: The speed at which a piece of music is played.

Legato: A smooth and connected style of playing or singing.

Dynamics: The volume levels in music, ranging from soft to loud.

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