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Tempo means time in Italian. The expression found at the top left corner of the musical staff indicates how fast the music should be played. The expression could be a word or a metronome marking. |
Italian Terms
adagio:
very slow.
allegretto:
fairly quick, slightly slower than allegro.
allegro:
lively, rather quick.
andante:
rather slow, at a moderate, walking pace.
andantino:
this used to mean a little slower than andante, but now it usually means
a little faster than andante.
con moto:
with movement, or a certain quickness.
grave:
extremely slow and solemn.
largamente:
broadly.
larghetto:
less slow than largo.
largo:
slow and broad.
lentamente:
slowly.
lento:
slow.
moderato:
moderate pace.
prestissimo:
as quick as possible.
presto:
very quick.
rapido:
rapid.
veloce:
with velocity.
vivace:
quick and lively.
belebt:
animated.
breit:
broad.
breiter:
broader.
geschwinder:
more rapid, swift.
grossem:
large, big.
klagend:
lamenting.
langsam:
slow.
langsamer:
slower.
mässig:
moderate.
rasch:
quick.
schnell:
fast.
schneller:
faster
animé:
animated.
grande:
large, great.
grave:
slow, solemn, deep slow.
gravement:
gravely, solomnly.
lent:
slow.
vif.:
lively.
vite:
fast.
HISTORY
Tempo markings had been used since
the early Baroque period, particularly with instrumental music. Not all
instrumental music at that time had a tempo mark. Johann Sebastian Bach
(1685-1750) often left out tempo marks in his keyboard music which was
left to the discretion of the performer. The time of a piece was often
determined by its purpose. Danse music was played at a certain tempo, depending
on its style, so as to be danseable. Likewise, choral music had a certain
tempo reflecting the mood of the text. Tempo markings became necessary
to the point that Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827) provided metronome markings
instead of descriptive words.