Très ralenti

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff where the slowing takes hold, sometimes with dashes to show its span. As a participle it names a state — much slowed — that lasts until a tempo marking (au mouvement, a tempo, Tempo I) restores speed or the piece ends.

Also spelled: tres ralenti

How Composers Use It

Ralenti describes the result: the music is now much slower. That sets it slightly apart from ralentir or en ralentissant, which describe the process, though performers often read très ralenti as a strong ritardando. Satie writes it some bars after an earlier rit., deepening a slowing already begun. Mark the tempo return if one follows; strong slowings need clear endpoints.

Example

Satie, Socrate, “Bords de l’Ilissus”, piano, m. 93: “très ralenti”, at mf, after a “rit.” at m. 88.

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