Basic tempo markings
By adding an -issimo ending, the word is amplified. By adding an -ino or -etto ending, the word is diminished. The beats per minute (bpm) values are rough approximations.From slowest to fastest:
- Larghissimo – very, very slow (24 bpm (beats per minute in a 4
4 time) and under) - Grave – very slow (25–45 bpm)
- Largo – broadly (40–60 bpm)
- Lento – slowly (45–60 bpm)
- Larghetto – rather broadly (60–66 bpm)
- Adagio – slow and stately (literally, "at ease") (66–76 bpm)
- Adagietto – slower than andante (72–76 bpm)
- Andante – at a walking pace (76–108 bpm)
- Andantino – slightly faster than Andante (although in some cases it can be taken to mean slightly slower than andante) (80–108 bpm)
- Marcia moderato – moderately, in the manner of a march (83–85 bpm)
- Andante moderato – between andante and moderato (thus the name andante moderato) (92–112 bpm)
- Moderato – moderately (108–120 bpm)
- Allegretto – moderately fast (112–120 bpm)
- Allegro moderato – close to but not quite allegro (116–120 bpm)
- Allegro – fast, quickly, and bright (120–168 bpm) (molto allegro is slightly faster than allegro, but always in its range)
- Vivace – lively and fast (168–176 bpm)
- Vivacissimo – very fast and lively (172–176 bpm)
- Allegrissimo or Allegro vivace – very fast (172–176 bpm)
- Presto – very, very fast (168–200 bpm)
- Prestissimo – even faster than Presto (200 bpm and over)
That's a mighty fine list you have compiled. Much obliged.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to add that I always look for the Second Movements of Mozart's Piano Concertos because, as a rule, they are either Adagio or Andante.