Tempo
[It., time]
The speed of the rhythm of a composition. Tempo is measured according to beats per minute. A very fast tempo, prestissimo, has between 200 and 208 beats per minute, presto has 168 to 200 beats per minute, allegro has between 120 and 168 beats per minute, moderato has 108 to 120 beats per minute, andante has 76 to 108, adagio has 66 to 76, larghetto has 60 to 66, and largo, the slowest tempo, has 40 to 60.
More about tempo markings
SUGGESTED LISTENING EXAMPLES:
- Tempo, accelerando:
Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody, No. 2 (ending) - W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 1, Track 42
- Glière: The Red Poppy, "Russian Soldier's Dance" (conclusion)
- W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 1, Track 15
- Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34, "Fandango asturiano" (middle section)
- W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 2, Track 23
- Tempo, adagio:
Barber: Adagio for Strings, Op.9 - W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 1, Track 36
- Bach: Trio Sonata in G major, I
- W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 2, Track 66
- Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite, Op. 46, No. 1, "Åse's Death"
- W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 1, Track 67
- Tempo, allegro:
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, in B-flat major, BWV 1051, III - W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 1, Track 38
- Boccherini: Concerto for Cello in B-flat major, G. 482, III
- W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 1, Track 61
- Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622, III
- W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 1, Track 6
- Tempo, andante:
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467, II (piano entrance) - W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 1, Track 4
- Tempo, grave:
Beethoven: Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 (Pathétique), I - W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 1, Track 34
- Tempo, largo:
Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 (from the New World), II - W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 1, Track 35
- Tempo, moderato:
Shostakovich: Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano, Op. 67, No.2, I (opening of second section) - W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 1, Track 37
- Hindemith: Sonata for Bass, Tuba, and Piano, III
- W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 2, Track 13
- Tempo, presto:
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 (Italian), IV - W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 1, Track 40
- Tempo, ritardando:
Smetana: The Moldau (ending) - W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 1, Track 43
- Chopin: Prelude in E minor, Op. 28, No. 4
- W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 1, Track 16
- Puccini: Gianni Schicchi, "O mio babbino caro"
- W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 1, Track 53
- Tempo, vivace:
Clarke: Sonata for Viola and Piano, II - W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 1, Track 60
- Brahms: Concerto for Violin and Cello in A minor, Op. 102, III
- W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 3, Track 26
- Smetana: The Bartered Bride, Dances: "Furiant"
- W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 1, Track 39
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