Sehr zurückhaltend

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff at the climax or close of a phrase where the tempo should hold back strongly; it continues until a tempo or the next tempo word.

How Composers Use It

A strong holding back — molto ritenuto — usually at a climax or cadence the music should savour. Mahler places it at the Adagietto’s last climax, just after viel Ton! Reserve it for one moment per section, and make sure the texture can sustain a slowed pulse without losing tone.

Example

Mahler, Symphony No. 5, fourth movement (Adagietto), harp, m. 96: “Sehr zurückhaltend.”, one bar after “viel Ton!”

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