BachElit · Original series archive
What Do Tempo Markings Tell Us?
28 February 2016
Largo, Adagio, Allegro, Vivace… What does a tempo marking communicate on the page, and what does the audience hear?
Original introduction (English translation)
Largo, Adagio, Allegro, Vivace… It is sometimes said that good music needs no tempo marking: the notes themselves convey both pace and character. Why, then, do movements need these names? Beyond their literal meanings, what might Largo, Adagio or Allegro assai tell a performer? Understanding such markings can help listeners, as well as musicians, hear more in the music.
Musical examples
- Beethoven’s metronome canonOriginal video ↗
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, first movement (form and personal observations)Original video ↗
These links come from the original 2015–2016 pages. The availability of external videos and playlists depends on their providers. Descriptions are translated here; linked materials remain in their original languages.