mosso

Mosso is an Italian musical term used in sheet music as a directive to convey movement or motion within a passage. It functions as a qualitative instruction rather than a precise tempo, signaling that the music should have a greater sense of flow or energy than the surrounding material.

In practical use, mosso appears in phrases such as più mosso (more motion), meno mosso (less motion), and can modify a tempo indication like Andante mosso or Allegro mosso. It may also appear with preambles such as con mosso, indicating that the performer should proceed with sustained motion. The exact degree of motion is left to the musician's interpretation, often shaping phrasing and tempo fluctuations rather than dictating a strict metronome rate.

Origin and scope: mosso derives from the Italian verb muovere, meaning “to move.” It has been employed in music notation from the Baroque era onward, remaining a flexible qualitative mark across classical, romantic, and modern styles to convey character and momentum rather than a fixed tempo.

Other uses: mosso also exists as a surname. Notable individuals include Angelo Mosso (1846–1910), an Italian physiologist known for work on cerebral blood flow and fatigue. The term is principally encountered in music theory and performance contexts, with its meaning centered on motion and expressive direction within a piece.