tempoets

Tempoets is a term used in music theory and digital music analysis to describe micro-tempo units embedded in a tempo contour. The concept treats tempo as a sequence of small, discrete values rather than a single fixed or smoothly varying rate.

Definition: A tempoet represents a short interval during which the tempo is treated as effectively constant, typically lasting from one to several seconds and expressed in beats per minute (BPM). A piece's overall tempo curve can be described as a series of tempoets with corresponding BPM values, creating a tempo contour.

Origin and use: The word tempoet is a coined, informal term that emerged in online music-technology communities and in experimental composition discussions. It is not part of standard music-theory nomenclature and has no formal governing body. As such, its definition and measurement can vary between sources.

Measurement and interpretation: Because tempoets depend on the chosen time window, different analyses can yield different tempoet sequences for the same piece. Common practice specifies window length and reduction method (for example, averaging or median BPM) to produce a reproducible tempo contour. Tempoets are often visualized as a tempo graph or contour overlay on a score or waveform.

Applications: In algorithmic composition and digital audio workstations, tempoets can guide gradual tempo changes, micro-tempo variations, or tempo modulation schemes. They are also used in research to study tempo drift, expressive timing, and performance practice.

See also: tempo, tempo modulation, tempo curve, beat tracking, tempo map.