Tempo (It.)
Time. "Tempo" is universally used to signify " rate of movement." Tempo Indications- Slow Largo, Grave, Lento, Adagio.
Fast { { Andante, Moderate Moderato, Commodo.
Allegro, Presto.
Words used to modify the above: Poco, a little. Before a word meaning slow, signifies an increase of speed, as poco lento, a little slow; before a word meaning fast, it signifies a decrease of speed, as poco allegro, a little fast. Piu, more. Before a word meaning slow, signifies a decrease of speed, as piu lento, slower; before a word meaning fast, it signifies an increase of speed, as piu allegro, faster. Assai, very. After a word meaning slow, decreases the speed, as adagio assai, very slow; after a word meaning fast, increases the speed, as allegro assai. Molto, much; has the same meaning as assai.
Slow THE DIMINUTIVE Etto. {Larghetto, a little faster than Largo.
Adagietta, a little faster than [Adagio. [Allegro.
Fast, Allegretto, a little slower than { THE SUPERLATIVE Issimo.
Larghissimo, } As slow as possible.
Slow Lentissimo, Adagissimo, Fast Prestissimo, } Fast as possible.
THE DIMINUTIVE Ino.
Slow, Andantino, faster than Andante.
Andante means "going" [from andare, to go], therefore Andantino means "going a little." A large number of words are used in conjunction with the tempo indications that refer more to the manner or style of the performance than to the speed, as Appassionata, with passion; Vivace, with life.
The majority of these words are preceded by con, with; as- • ...
Con brio, with vigor, Con calore,... with warmth, Con fuoco, with fire, ..
Con moto, etc., with motion, Con espressione with expression, Con dolcezza, Con dolore,.
Con tristezza, with sweetness, with sadness, with sorrow, After words meaning fast.
After words meaning slow.
Tempo commodo. Convenient; easy movement.
Tempo di ballo. Dance time.
Tempo giusto. Strict; exact time.
Tempo marcia. March time.
Taubert, Carl G. W. Composer: Germany. Tausig, Carl. Composer, pianist; Poland. B. 1811; d. 1891.
B. 1841; d. 1871.
TEMPO ORDINARIO Tempo ordinario. Ordinary; usual.
Tempo primo.
First time, used after a ritard. or accel. to indicate a return to the original time.
Tempo rubato. See Rubato.
Tempo wie vorher (Ger.). Same as Tempo primo.