Tempo Marking

Musical Term
Definition
Meaning
Example
Type
To the initial tempo

In Italian, "A Tempo" means “in time”.

In music, A Tempo means to resume the speed of the music. It is often written after a ritardando or accelerando to indicate the music should be played in the initial tempo (usually refers to the speed of the "main theme" of the movement).

Tempo Marking
Gradually faster

Gradually increase the tempo within a passage or section. Usually marked in the score with " accel. "

Tempo Marking
Slow, but slightly faster than adagio

The tempo of Adagietto is between adagio and andante, typically 70 to 80 beats per minute.

"Adagietto" is the diminutive of "Adagio", which means to attenuate or diminish the meaning of "Adagio" (slow and stately).

Tempo Marking
Slow and stately

In music, "Adagio" means to play slowly. If there is "Adagio" in the score, it means that the piece or part needs to be played at a slow tempo. In general, 66 to 76 beats per minute is considered to be a suitable tempo for Adagio.

The word "Adagio" is formed from the Italian phrase "Ad agio". Literally, "Ad agio" means "At ease". In other words, "Adagio" means that the music needs to be played in a "slow and ease" way.

Tempo Marking
Very slow

Play in a very slow tempo, typically 24 to 40 beats per minute.

"Adagissimo" is the superlative of the Italian word "Adagio", which means to maximize the meaning of "Adagio" (slow and stately).

Tempo Marking
Moderately fast

Play in a light, graceful, and moderately fast manner, typically 112 to 120 beats per minute.

"Allegretto" is the diminutive of the Italian word "Allgero", which means to attenuate or diminish the meaning of "Allgero" (fast and lively).

Tempo Marking
Fast and lively

The Italian word "Allegro" means "fast", brisk", and "cheerful", and is usually played at a tempo of 120 to 156 beats per minute.

In music history, the word "Allegro" appeared in a music treatise that published in Venice in 1535. The musician, Silvestro Ganassi Dal Fontego, used the word to describe a vibrato with a cheerful feeling as a playing style.

Tempo Marking
Moderately quick

Play in a slightly fast tempo, a tempo between moderato and allegro, typically 120 to 156 beats per minute.

Tempo Marking
Very fast and lively

Allegro Vivace is a very fast tempo. It is generally considered to play at a tempo of 172 to 176 beats per minute.

Allegro Vivace also carries emotional expression, as "Vivace" in Italian means "lively", so this tempo marking implies that the performer should play the music in a lively style.

Tempo Marking
Walking pace

To play at a walking pace, typically 72 to 76 beats per minute.

The Italian word "Andante" initially had only the meaning of "walking". Starting from the 17th century, Italian composers began to write the word into their compositions. Soon, performers realized that when they saw this word in scores, they are told to play at a tempo of walking.

Tempo Marking
Moderate walking pace

Slightly faster than andante, typically 92 to 98 beats per minute.

Tempo Marking
Slow and solemn

To play in a dignified and solemn way, usually with a heavier low-pitched in sound, and generally at a tempo of 20 to 40 beats per minute.

Tempo Marking
Rather broadly

Less slow and broad than largo. A tempo between adagio and largo, typically 60 to 66 beats per minute.

"Larghetto" is the diminutive of the Italian word "Largo", which means to attenuate or diminish the meaning of "Largo" (slow and broad).

Tempo Marking
Slow and broad

Play in a slow and broad manner, typically 40 to 60 beats per minute.

Tempo Marking
Slow

Play in a slow tempo, typically 40 to 60 beats per minute.

Tempo Marking
At a moderate tempo

Play in a moderate tempo, typically 108 to 120 beats per minute.

Tempo Marking
As fast as possible

Play in a very fast tempo, stands for "the most rapidly". Generally, Prestissimo needs to be played at a speed of more than 200 beats per minute.

"Prestissimo" is the superlative of Italian word "Presto", which means to maximize the meaning of "Presto" (quickly).

Tempo Marking
Quickly

In Italian, Presto means "very fast" or "quickly." In music, generally refers to the music to be played 168 to 200 beats per minute.

Presto is sometimes used in combined with other tempo markings, such as "Presto ma non troppo", which means "very fast, but not too fast", so the performer needs to have some control. Combining tempo markings in this way is very common because tempo markings in classical music is used to indicate "relative speed", not "absolute speed".

Tempo Marking
Fast and lively

Played in a lively and brisk manner, typically 156 to 176 beats per minute.

Tempo Marking