Tempo Terms

Front 1

Tempo

Back 1

The speed of music e.g. 120 BPM

Hint 1

time

Front 2

Grave

Back 2

"Slow and solemn, slower than largo"

Hint 2

solemn

Front 3

Largo

Back 3

Slow and dignified

Hint 3

broad

Front 4

Larghetto

Back 4

Not as slow as largo

Hint 4

a little bit broad

Front 5

Lentando

Back 5

Becoming slower

Hint 5

slowing

Front 6

Lento

Back 6

Slow

Hint 6

slow

Front 7

Tardo

Back 7

Slow

Hint 7

slow

Front 8

Adagio

Back 8

"Slow, but not as slow as largo"

Hint 8

"ad agio, at ease"

Front 9

Adagietto

Back 9

Faster than adagio; or a short adagio composition

Hint 9

little adagio

Front 10

Andante

Back 10

"Moderately slow, flowing along"

Hint 10

at a walking pace

Front 11

Andantino

Back 11

slightly faster than andante

Hint 11

slightly faster than andante

Front 12

Moderato

Back 12

At a moderate speed

Hint 12

moderately

Front 13

Allegretto

Back 13

Slightly slower than allegro

Hint 13

a little bit joyful

Front 14

Largamente

Back 14

Slow and dignified

Hint 14

broadly

Front 15

Mosso

Back 15

Agitated

Hint 15

moved

Front 16

Allegro

Back 16

Moderately fast

Hint 16

joyful; lively and fast

Front 17

Sostenuto

Back 17

"A slowing of tempo, often accompanied by legato playing"

Hint 17

sustained

Front 18

Fermata

Back 18

Marks a note to be held or sustained

Hint 18

stopped

Front 19

Presto

Back 19

Very fast

Hint 19

ready

Front 20

Prestissimo

Back 20

"Very very fast, as fast as possible"

Hint 20

very ready

Front 21

Accelerando

Back 21

Accelerating

Hint 21

accelerating

Front 22

Affrettando

Back 22

Accelerating

Hint 22

becoming hurried

Front 23

Allargando

Back 23

"Slowing down and broadening, becoming more stately and majestic, possibly louder"

Hint 23

slowing and broadening

Front 24

Ritardando

Back 24

Decelerating

Hint 24

slowing down

Front 25

Rallentando

Back 25

Decelerating

Hint 25

becoming progressively slower

Front 26

Rubato

Back 26

Free flowing and exempt from steady rhythm

Hint 26

robbed

Front 27

Tenuto

Back 27

Holding or sustaining a single note

Hint 27

sustained

Front 28

Accompagnato

Back 28

The accompaniment must follow the singer who can speed up or slow down at will

Hint 28

accompanied

Front 29

Alla marcia

Back 29

In strict tempo at a marching pace (e.g. 120 bpm)

Hint 29

as a march

Front 30

A tempo

Back 30

Return to previous tempo

Hint 30

to time

Front 31

L'istesso tempo

Back 31

At the same speed

Hint 31

Same speed