Pochettino

As Printed on a Score

Appears inside a direction above the staff — pochettino rit., pochettino più mosso — and lasts exactly as long as the direction it qualifies, usually a phrase; an a tempo typically follows.

How Composers Use It

A diminutive of poco, “a tiny bit”: it scales whatever it precedes down to less than poco. Mahler and Chaminade use it in songs for the slightest rit. at a phrase end. It has an affectionate, conversational tone, so it suits intimate music; in an orchestral score the plainer poco is understood more quickly.

Example

Mahler, Des Knaben Wunderhorn, “Rheinlegendchen”, voice, m. 94: “pochettino rit.”, printed in voice and piano alike, with “a tempo” in the next bar.

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