PF Wonderland
Tempo Terminology
back

Music Notation A Manual of Modern Practice by Gardner Read. London: Victor Gpllancz LTD, 1974.
accelerando
quickening; a gradual speeding-up of the tempo
alla breve
duple time with a half note as the unit; same as 2/2
allargando
Broadening; sometimes interpreted as a combination of ritardando and crescendo
meno mosso or più lento
less motion; slower
pressez
French term for 'quicken'; same meaning as accelerando
rallentando
Same as ritardanto; a gradual slowing-down of tempo
ritardanto
Slowing down, a gradual holding-back of the tempo
ritenuto
Frequently confused with ritardando; means a sudden slowing-down, in contrast to the gradual holding-back of rallentando

stringendo
Pressing forward; sometimes erroneously interpreted as a combination of accelerando and crescendo

Tempo giusto
In strict tempo

trattenuto
Holding back (same as rallentando) with the addition of a sustained quality (sostenuto)

Top