Etwas zögernd

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff over a phrase that should hesitate slightly, sometimes with an Italian equivalent (poco rall.) beside it; it applies locally until a tempo or the next tempo word.

How Composers Use It

A gentle hesitation, the German poco rallentando with a hint of reluctance. It suits a phrase ending or a lead-in to a return where a full ritardando would be too heavy. Cornelius and Wolf use it in songs to let a line linger on a word.

Example

Cornelius, Weihnachtslieder, Op. 8, “Die Hirten”, voice, m. 17: “etwas zögernd”, printed with “poco rall.”

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