A battuta
“In strict time” — a return to strict, measured tempo after a freer passage.
What it means
A battuta literally means “in strict time.” The marking calls for a return to strict, measured playing after a passage that allowed more rhythmic freedom, for instance following an ad libitum or rubato section.
In the notation
A battuta appears as a verbal instruction above the staff, usually right after a passage marked as free or unmeasured. It marks the point where the steady pulse resumes.
Musical use
The marking works as the counterpart to instructions that grant the performer temporal freedom. Once a battuta appears, that freedom ends, and the piece returns to a fixed, even meter, often at the original basic tempo.
Performance practice
As soon as you reach a battuta, leave the free tempo behind and settle into a clear, even pulse. In ensembles this moment matters especially for coordination, since all parts must fall back into strict time together.