Tempo
The speed at which a piece of music is performed.
Category
fundamental
Pronunciation
TEM-poh
Origin
Italian
Length
140 words · 1 min read
About Tempo
Tempo indicates how fast or slow the pulse of the music moves, typically measured in beats per minute (BPM). Before the metronome was invented in 1815, tempo was indicated by Italian terms (allegro, adagio, andante) that described character as much as speed.
More fundamental terms
Dynamics
View all fundamentalterms →The variation in loudness between notes or phrases in a performance.
Aural TrainingThe development of musical listening skills including interval recognition and melodic dictation
BaroqueThe period of Western art music spanning roughly 1600 to 1750, characterised by ornate expression, basso continuo, and the development of tonal harmony.
MelodyA sequence of single pitches perceived as a coherent musical line.
DroneA sustained or continuously repeated note or chord that sounds throughout a passage or entire piece
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