Music Notation and Terminology Part 9

8. _Presto_, _prestissimo_, _vivacissimo_, and _prestissimo possibile_--the most rapid tempo possible.

CHAPTER XII

TEMPO (_Continued_)

110. Innumerable combinations of the words defined in Sec. 109 with one another and with other words occur. Some of these combinations with their approximate meanings follow. The meaning of any such expression not found in the list may usually be arrived at by consulting the terms defined in paragraph 109 and recalling the use of certain auxiliary terms quoted in Chapter IX.

_Largo a.s.sai_--very slow.

_Largo di molto_--very slow.

_Largo ma non troppo_--slow, but not too slow.

_Largo un poco_--slow, but not so slow as _largo_. (_Cf.

larghetto_.)

_Lentemente_--slowly.

_Lentando_--with increasing slowness.

_Tres lentement_--very slowly.

_Lentissamente_--very slowly.

_Lentissamamente_--very slowly.

_Lento a.s.sai_--very slowly.

_Lento a capriccio_--slowly but capriciously.

_Lento di molto_--very slowly.

_Andante affettuoso_--moderately slow, and with tenderness and pathos. [Transcriber's Note: Corrected error "affetuoso" in original.]

_Andante amabile_--moderately slow, and lovingly.

_Andante cantabile_--moderately slow, and in singing style.

_Andante grazioso_--moderately slow, and gracefully.

_Andante maestoso_--moderately slow, and majestically.

_Andante con moto_--slightly faster than _andante_.

_Andante (ma) non troppo_--not too slowly.

_Andante pastorale_--moderately slow, and in simple and unaffected style; (lit. rural, pastoral).

_Andante quasi allegro_--almost as rapid in tempo as _allegro_; (lit. an _andante_ in the style of _allegro_).

_Andante sostenuto_--moderately slow and sustained.

_Allegrissimo_--much faster than _allegro_. (The superlative degree of _allegro_.)

_Allegro agitato_--a moderately rapid tempo, and in agitated style.

_Allegro appa.s.sionata_--a moderately rapid tempo, and in pa.s.sionate style.

_Allegro a.s.sai_ (very _allegro_)--faster than _allegro_.

_Allegro commodo_--a conveniently rapid tempo.

_Allegro con brio_--an _allegro_ played in brilliant style.

Faster than _allegro_.

_Allegro con fuoco_--an _allegro_ played with fire, _i.e._, with extreme animation. Faster than _allegro_.

_Allegro con spirito_--an _allegro_ performed with spirit.

_Allegro con moto_--faster than _allegro_.

_Allegro di bravura_--an _allegro_ performed in brilliant style, _i.e._, demanding great skill in execution.

_Allegro furioso_ (furiously)--quicker than _allegro_; very brilliant.

_Allegro giusto_--an _allegro_ movement, but in exact rhythm.

_Allegro ma grazioso_--an _allegro_ played in graceful style.

_Allegro (ma) non tanto_--an _allegro_ movement, but not too rapid.

_Allegro (ma) non troppo_--an _allegro_ movement, but not too rapid.

_Allegro (ma) non presto_--an _allegro_ movement, but not too rapid.

_Allegro moderato_--slower than _allegro_.

_Allegro vivace_--faster than _allegro_.

_Presto a.s.sai_--as rapidly as possible.

_Presto (ma) non troppo_--a _presto_ movement, but not too rapid.

111. There are certain _terms which indicate a modification of the normal tempo_ of a movement, these being divided into two cla.s.ses, (a) those terms which indicate in general a slower tempo, and (b) those which indicate in general a more rapid tempo. The further subdivisions of these two cla.s.ses are shown below.