Poco calando

As Printed on a Score

Printed above or below the staff, in full or as poco cal., at the phrase that should fade; it applies to a few notes or a phrase and is followed by a tempo or a new dynamic.

Abbreviations: poco cal.

How Composers Use It

Calando joins slowing and softening, and poco keeps both slight: a phrase that falls away rather than ending abruptly. It suits the ends of phrases in songs and lyrical piano music. Because it already combines two dimensions, avoid stacking it with a separate rit. and dim. that say the same thing; if the next phrase should resume the tempo, write a tempo.

Example

Liszt, 2 Konzertetüden, S. 145, No. 1 (“Waldesrauschen”), m. 25: “poco calando”, followed by “accel.” in the next bar.

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