This document defines musical tempo and dynamics terms. It discusses tempo as the speed or pace of a piece of music, measured in beats per minute (BPM). Common tempo markings and their approximate BPM ranges are provided, including slow tempos like Largo (45-50 BPM) and fast tempos like Allegro (109-132 BPM). Dynamics refer to the loudness or softness of sound, indicated by markings like piano (p), forte (f), crescendo, and diminuendo. Examples of works demonstrating these tempo and dynamics elements are referenced.

1. Tempo and
Dynamics

2. Tempo
The speed or a pace of a piece.
Listen to different tempos. Tap to the steady
beat.
Chopin, Piano Concerto no. 2, 2nd Movement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_dSI0gVb
p0
Haydn, Symphony No. 98, Finale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtIfVLHLe
aQ

3. Tempo Measurement
Tempo is measured in beats per minute
(BPM)
Allegro (fast tempo, the speed of a quarter
note is 120 beats per minute):
Allegro

4. Metronome
A device that
produces regular,
metrical ticks
(beats, clicks).
http://www.youtub
e.com/watch?v=gsJ
EMH_emBM

5. Tempo Markings
• Tempo markings are mostly in Italian.
• They are placed in the beginning of a piece.
Open the following score and look for the following Italian
tempo markings: Largo, Allegro, Vivace, Allegro.
Then, listen to the composition and try to determine what these
markings mean.
A. Corelli, Concerto Grosso in C Minor, op. 6 no. 3
http://erato.uvt.nl/files/imglnks/usimg/1/1a/IMSLP254974-
PMLP28008-Corelli_-
_Concerto_grosso_No3_in_CM_for_2_Solo-Violins__Solo-
Cello__Strings_and_Piano__Schering__score.pdf
http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/concerto-
grosso-in-c-minot-arcangelo-corelli/

6. Basic Slow Tempo Markings
• Grave – slow and solemn (20–40 BPM)
• Lento – slowly (40–45 BPM)
• Largo – broadly (45–50 BPM)
• Larghetto – rather broadly (50–55 BPM)
• Adagio – slow and stately (literally, "at
ease") (55–65 BPM)
• Andante – at a walking pace (73–77 BPM)
• Moderato – moderately (86–97 BPM)

7. Basic Fast Tempo Markings
• Allegro – fast, quickly and bright (109–132
BPM)
• Vivace – lively and fast (132–140 BPM)
• Presto – very fast (168–177 BPM)

8. Fast Tempos
• Allegro – 109 - 132 BPM
• Beethoven, Sonata No. 8, “Patetique”, 3rd Mvt.
http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/sforster-
beethoventhree/

9. Fast Tempos
• Vivace – 132 - 140 BPM
• Presto – 168 – 177 BPM
• W. A. Mozart, Sinfonia Concertante in E Flat Major, 3rd
Movementhttp://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/sinfonia-
concertante-for-violin-viola-and-orchestra-wolfgang-amadeus-mozart

10. Slow Tempos
• Grave – 20 - 40 BPM
• Beethoven, Sonata No. 8, “Patetique”, 1st Mvt.
http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/sforster-
beethoventhree/

11. Slow Tempos
• Lento – 40 - 45 BPM
• Largo – 45 - 50 BPM
• F. Chopin, Prelude No. 4 in E Minor
http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/ilic-fugitive/

12. Slow Tempos
• Adagio – 55 - 65 BPM
• Beethoven, Sonata No. 8, “Patetique”, 2nd Mvt.
http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/sforster-
beethoventhree/

13. Slow Tempos
• Andante – 73 - 77 BPM
• Haydn, Symphony No. 104 in D, “London”, 2nd
movement, Andante
http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/symphony-no-104-in-d-london-
franz-joseph-haydn/
• Moderato – 86 - 97 BPM

14. Terms for Tempo Changes
• Accelerando – speeding up (abbreviation:
accel.)
• Ritenuto or Rallentando – gradual slowing
down
• Rubato – free adjustment of tempo for
expressive purposes.
• F. Chopin, Waltz No. 12 in E Major
http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/jjohnson-chopin/
• G. Gershwin, “Rhapsody in Blue”
http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/rhapsody-in-blue-
for-piano-and-jazz-band-george-gershwin/

15. Tempo Changes
An example of Ritenuto:
R. Schumann, Piano Concerto
https://www.thespco.org/es/programs/schumanns-piano-concerto
http://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/3/39/IMSLP31875-
PMLP03738-Schumann_-
_Piano_Concerto__Op._54__orch._score_.pdf

16. Dynamics
• p or piano, meaning "soft”
• f or forte, meaning "loud.”
More subtle degrees of loudness or softness are indicated by:
• mp, standing for mezzo-piano, meaning "moderately soft",
and
• mf, standing for mezzo-forte, meaning "moderately loud”.
Beyond f and p, there are also
• pp, standing for "pianissimo" and meaning "very soft", and
• ff, standing for "fortissimo" and meaning "very loud".[5]

17. Listen for the dynamic changes in W.
A. Mozart’s, Overture to “The
Marriage of Figaro”.
Look for the dynamic markings in the
score before you start listening: pp, p,
ff, p (next four pages).
http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/overture-to-the-
marriage-of-figaro-wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/
http://conquest.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/8/8e/IMSLP01198-
The_Marriage_of_Figaro_Overture.pdf

22. Dynamics Changes
The following terms can be identified with
cresc., dim., or the graphics below:
• Crescendo – gradually play louder.
• Diminuendo – gradually play softer.

23. Please listen for the dynamics changes in the following
example with the score.
F. Chopin, Piano Concerto No. 1, 1st Movement, Allegro
maestoso
http://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/3/37/
IMSLP121206-PMLP03805-FChopin_Piano_Concerto_No.1__Op.11_BH12.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0y-rhw73Fo

24. Beethoven, Symphony 1, 3rd Movement, Menuetto
http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/symphony-no-1-
ludwig-van-beethoven/

25. Required Readings
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempo
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_dynamics