"Andantino" is an Italian musical term that translates to "slightly faster than andante" or "a little faster than walking pace" in English. It is a tempo marking used to indicate a moderately slow tempo, faster than "andante" but slower than "moderato". It is usually played at a tempo of 76 to 108 beats per minute.
"Andantino" serves as a tempo indication, guiding performers in terms of the speed and character of the music. This marking conveys a tempo that is slightly faster than a leisurely walking pace, instilling a sense of gentle movement and grace. It is often represented on sheet music as the word "andantino".
Upon encountering an "Andantino" marking, performers are expected to play at a tempo that is moderately slow yet imbued with a subtle forward motion. This tempo choice allows for a lyrical and flowing interpretation of the music, fostering a sense of elegance and expression.
Composers utilize "Andantino" to evoke emotions of tranquility, nostalgia, or introspection. The tempo encourages performers to explore nuanced phrasing and subtle dynamic contrasts, contributing to the music's emotive depth.
Interpreting "Andantino" requires performers to maintain a steady and measured tempo, capturing the delicate balance between gentle movement and lyrical expression. The music should flow smoothly, with graceful phrasing and a sense of unhurried beauty.
Tempo Marking | bpm | Meaning |
Grave | 20 - 40 bpm | Slow and solemn |
Lento | 40 - 60 bpm | Slow |
Largo | 40 - 60 bpm | Slow and broad |
Larghetto | 60 - 66 bpm | Rather broadly |
Adagio | 66 - 76 bpm | Slow and stately |
Adagietto | 70 - 80 bpm | Slightly faster than adagio |
Andante | 72 - 76 bpm | Walking pace |
Andante moderato | 92 - 98 bpm | Moderate walking pace |
Moderato | 108 - 120 bpm | At a moderate tempo |
Allegretto | 112 - 120 bpm | Moderately fast |
Allegro moderato | 116 - 120 bpm | Moderately quick |
Allegro | 120 - 156 bpm | Fast and lively |
Vivace | 156 - 176 bpm | Fast and lively |
Allegro vivace | 172 - 176 bpm | Very fast and lively |
Presto | 168 - 200 bpm | Quickly |
Prestissimo | 200+ bpm | As fast as possible |
Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer, the predominant musical figure during the transition between the Classical to Romantic eras. He occupies an unprecedented dominance in the history of Western music history, and has been widely regarded as the greatest, most influential and most popular musician who ever lived.
Beethoven's music inherited the artistic atmosphere of Haydn and Mozart, penetrated the desire for dignity, vented the anger tortured by fate, and demonstrated his determination to fight with fate.
Compared to other musicians, Beethoven is effectively to interact the philosophy of life with audience through music. Although he was not a romantic, he had become the object followed by other romantics.
As a musician, Beethoven suffered from ear diseases. However, he was unwilling to succumb to fate, vowing to take fate by the throat, and continue to complete his career. In the last ten years of his life, without hearing any sound, his compositions influenced the development of music for nearly two hundred years.