Ruhevoll

As Printed on a Score

A heading word, printed above the first bar, sometimes with a metronome mark beside it. It holds until a new character or tempo word; local rit. and a tempo work within it.

How Composers Use It

Full of rest: peaceful, serene, unhurried — calmer and more contemplative than ruhig, and implying a slow tempo. It suits music meant to feel still; Webern sets it at ppp, so it tends to mean quiet as well. Add a metronome mark if a specific pace matters, since peace can be found at several speeds.

Example

Webern, 5 Lieder nach Gedichten von Stefan George, Op. 4, “Eingang”, voice, m. 1: “Ruhevoll” with a metronome mark of ca. 58, at ppp.

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