Short Answer
Overview
Calando (Italian for “slowing down” or “dying away”) is a tempo indication that instructs musicians to gradually decrease the speed of the music. It is usually written in the score as the word calando or the abbreviation “cal.” and is often accompanied by a diminuendo marking, emphasizing both a slowdown and a softening of dynamics. The term is primarily employed in classical and romantic repertoire but appears across many styles where expressive tempo modulation is desired.
History / Origin
The word calando derives from the Italian verb calare, meaning “to fall” or “to lower.” It entered musical terminology during the late 18th century, alongside other Italian tempo and expression markings that standardized performance practice across Europe. Early examples can be found in the scores of composers such as Mozart and Beethoven, who used the term to shape phrasing and cadential closure.
How It’s Used
In notation, calando appears as a textual instruction placed above a staff or as a combined symbol with a hairpin (〈) indicating a simultaneous diminuendo. Performers interpret it by progressively reducing the beats per minute (BPM) until a new tempo indication, a fermata, or a pause is reached. The marking is common in orchestral, chamber, solo piano, and vocal music, particularly in passages that transition to a new section, conclude a movement, or create dramatic tension.
Why It Matters
Calando provides composers with a precise tool for shaping musical time, allowing a controlled deceleration that enhances emotional impact. Listeners often perceive a calando as a “breathing out” of the music, which can underscore lyrical lines, highlight harmonic resolutions, or prepare for a sudden change in mood. Notable examples include the closing measures of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, the final phrase of Debussy’s “Clair de lune,” and the ending of many jazz ballads where the band gently slows before a quiet release.
Common Misconceptions
Calando and rallentando are completely different markings.
Both indicate a gradual slowing, but calando often implies a simultaneous decrease in dynamics, whereas rallentando focuses solely on tempo.
Calando must always end at a complete stop.
The term merely calls for a slowdown; the passage may continue at a new, slower tempo rather than stopping.
Only classical music uses calando.
While most common in classical scores, the marking is also employed in film scores, jazz arrangements, and contemporary popular music when expressive tempo changes are required.
FAQ
Is calando the same as a fermata?
No. A fermata indicates a pause of indeterminate length on a single note or rest, while calando directs a gradual slowing of the tempo over a passage.
Can calando be combined with other tempo markings?
Yes. Composers often write ‘calando’ followed by a new tempo indication (e.g., ‘calando, then adagio’) to specify both the slowdown and the target speed.
How should a performer measure the rate of slowing in a calando?
Performers typically use their internal pulse, gradually decreasing the beat interval. Conductors may give visual cues, and the exact rate is left to artistic judgment unless a metronome marking is provided.
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