Tempo actually means "time" in Italian. The expression of tempo is either expressed in descriptive words or in beats per minute, called metronome markings. In the world of Music Theory, tempo refers to the speed, or pace, at which music is (or ought to be) played. The tempo intended for a piece of music is usually indicated by the composer with special markings on the written score. Tempo, however, is more of a reference point used to inform musicians how to express the emotional ideas originally experienced by the composer. In performance, tempo is often re-imagined by the mood of the conductors and musicians performing the music.
The influential Italian composers of the 17th century were the first to widely utilize descriptive words, like Allegro (lively), as tempo markings. After the manufacturing success of "Maelzel's" Metronome in 1816, many composers and music publishers began to replace the descriptive Italian tempo marks in musical scores with mathematical tempo marks, measured in beats per minute (bpm). Below are common descriptive tempo marks and their corresponding mathematical tempo marks (beats per minute).
Here are marks used to modify tempo:
Accelerando - speeding up (abbreviation: accel.)
Allargando - growing broader; decreasing tempo, usually near the end of a piece
Calando - going slower (and usually also softer)
Doppio movimento - double speed
Lentando - gradual slowing and softer
Meno mosso - less movement or slower
Mosso - movement, more lively, or quicker, much like più mosso, but not as extreme
Più mosso - more movement or faster
Precipitando - hurrying, going faster/forward
Rallentando - gradual slowing down (abbreviation: rall.)
Ritardando - less gradual slowing down (more sudden decrease in tempo than rallentando; abbreviation: rit. or more specifically, ritard.)
Ritenuto - slightly slower; temporarily holding back.
Rubato - free adjustment of tempo for expressive purposes
Stretto - in faster tempo, often near the conclusion of a section.
Stringendo - pressing on faster (literally "tightening")
Note: Often, tempo terms are also used as expressions of mood. Used in this context, the descriptive tempo words are not specifically about the pace of the music. Rather, they convey the pace you might associate with a certain mood or "flavor."
*Tempo is not to be confused with Dynamics or Rhythm, two completely different concepts.
Doesn't have to be. This music is usually of varied tempos, sometimes slow or fast.
True
there are alot of tempos. like allegro song are usually faster then waltzes so tempo is according to the peice of music
There are several musical tempos that can be considered "fairly quick" such as allegro, allegretto, or vivace.
This question makes no sense. Tempo is unrelated to the instrument. It is usually indicated on the written music or is at the discretion of the performer.
Doesn't have to be. This music is usually of varied tempos, sometimes slow or fast.
True
there are alot of tempos. like allegro song are usually faster then waltzes so tempo is according to the peice of music
There are several musical tempos that can be considered "fairly quick" such as allegro, allegretto, or vivace.
is the foxtrot slow, fast or tempos
Sherman Edwards wrote the music and Sid Wayne wrote the lyrics. The Tempos originally recorded the song in 1959.
This question makes no sense. Tempo is unrelated to the instrument. It is usually indicated on the written music or is at the discretion of the performer.
Bebop is a style of jazz music popularized in the mid-1940s. It is characterized by complex melodies, fast tempos, and improvisation using modified classical scales.
There are a lot of tempos. The slowest would be something like largo and the fastest would probably be pressestissimo.
hard bop
It was a style in which two contrasting tempos were used at the same time in the melody and accompaniment.
It can have a number of tempos, depending on the melodic/motivic content, though they are usually marked with slower tempos (largo, adagio, etc.). The second movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata, op. 10 no. 3 is a beautiful example music that is generally thought of as sounding despairing and sad, and it is marked "largo e mesto".