timetempo
Timetempo refers to the relationship between time and tempo in musical contexts, particularly in music technology and performance practice. The term, when used, describes how tempo can be defined as a function of time or controlled by a tempo map that specifies tempo values at specific time stamps or bar boundaries. In this framework, tempo is not a single fixed value but a variable that evolves over the course of a piece.
In theory, timetempo is implemented via a tempo function T(t) in beats per minute, or via a
In practice, timetempo is central to tempo maps in digital audio workstations and notation software. A tempo
Applications include film scoring, electronic and dance music, and live performance, where expressive timing and pacing
Implementation notes: tempo values are typically expressed in BPM or microseconds per quarter note (MPQN). Standards
See also: Tempo, Tempo map, Rubato, MIDI, MusicXML, Digital audio workstation.