Tempos

Tempo refers to the speed at which a piece of music is performed. It governs how fast the beats occur and helps shape the music’s energy and character. Tempo interacts with the meter and beat, and can be stable throughout a work or shift at different sections.

Tempo is typically indicated at the start of a score with Italian terms such as Largo (very slow), Adagio (slow), Andante (a walking pace), Moderato (moderate), Allegro (fast), and Presto (very fast). In many pieces, composers also provide metronome marks that specify beats per minute (BPM), for example 120 BPM. Tempo can change during a piece, with markings for speeding up or slowing down such as accelerando and ritardando.

Expressive timing also includes rubato, which allows flexible timing for musical expression. A tempo (also written a tempo) or tempo primo indicates returning to the original speed after a deviation. Some passages switch to a new tempo entirely, reflecting mood or structural changes within a work.

In practice, tempo affects interpretation as well as performance difficulty. Classical music often prizes precise tempo and controlled rubato, while jazz and popular styles may emphasize groove and feel within a steady tempo. Modern notation and recording frequently use tempo maps or a tempo track to coordinate changes across sections and to synchronize with other media, such as film, where tempo can be linked to pacing and mood.

In summary, tempos (plural) describe the pace of music, communicated through qualitative markings and quantitative BPM, and shaped by stylistic conventions and performance practices.