Breit

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff where the music broadens — often at a climax after a rit. — and in force until the next tempo word; Breiter and Sehr breit grade it. Over a string part, or as breit gestrichen, it can instead describe broad bowing rather than tempo, so check whether it sits with bowing words.

How Composers Use It

Broad: a little slower and fuller, with weight on each note — the German largamente. It suits climaxes and cadential arrivals. Give the music room to broaden (a rit. into it, full dynamics), and mark the way out (Tempo, a tempo) if the broadening is local.

Example

Wolf, Mörike-Lieder, “Auf einer Wanderung”, piano, m. 83: “breit”, at ff one bar after a rit.

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