Borsttempo

Borsttempo is a Dutch term that describes the tempo determined by the heartbeat, i.e., the pace of the chest’s beating. The concept is used primarily in physiology and exercise science, and occasionally in musicology as a metaphorical reference to a pulse-based tempo. In physiological contexts, borsttempo corresponds to a person’s heart rate and is measured in beats per minute (bpm). It can be used to pace breathing or movement in rehabilitation, endurance training, and relaxation exercises, with activity often prescribed in terms of heart-rate zones rather than strict metronome marks. In music, borsttempo is less of a formal technical term and more a poetic or pedagogical idea, describing a steady, pulse-like tempo that mirrors a heartbeat and may allow small rubato to convey vitality or emotion. Notation varies by source; when applied, it is usually expressed in bpm or taught by counting pulses rather than seconds.

Measurement and ranges: The resting borsttempo for adults typically falls around 60–100 bpm; during physical effort the rate rises, commonly to 120–180 bpm depending on age and fitness level. Practitioners may track borsttempo with a heart-rate monitor or by palpating the pulse.

Relation to other terms: The concept is closely related to hartslagtempo (heart-rate tempo) and simply to tempo or pulse in music, but borsttempo remains a largely Dutch-language label and is not a universal technical term.

See also: Heart rate, Tempo, Metronome, Pulse.