The Tempo (speed)
The tempo indicates the pace of the piece or movement, usually written above the staff at the beginning:
Largo, Adagio = very slow
Andante = slow
Andantino = medium slow
Moderato = at a moderate rate of speed
Allegretto = medium fast
Allegro = fast
Vivace = lively, quick
Presto = very fast
Meno mosso = slower
Piu mosso = faster
Modifications of speed inside of one or more measures are indicated by:
- Ritardando (rit.) or Rallentando (rail.) = gradually slower
- Accelerando (accel.) = gradually faster (accelerate) is usually followed by a change in tempo
- A tempo = to play at the previous speed
- The Fermata or Pause ? above or below a note means that it is to be sustained longer than its indicated value
Some other commonly used musical terms or marks:
- Da Capo (D.C.) = from the beginning
- Da Capo al Fine (D.C. al Fine) = from the beginning to Fine (end)
- Dal Segno V = repeat from the sign, usually as far as the Fine or as far as the Coda Sign v, then skip to the appended ending of the piece marked Coda (lit. tail).