Tempo, Mood, Dynamics & Articulation
Tempo Italian Meaning BPM largo Broad & slow 40-60 bpm larghetto Still broad, not so slow 60-66 bpm adagio Bit faster than largo 66-76 bpm andante Walking pace 76-108 bpm moderato Moderate speed 108-120 bpm allegro Quick & lively 120-168 bpm vivace Very lively 168-180 bpm presto Really fast 180-200 bpm
Tempo Italian Abbreviation Meaning accelerando accel. Speeding up rallentando rall. Slowing down ritenuto rit. Holding back the pace allargando allarg. Slowing down, getting a bit louder rubato rub. Can be flexible with pace of music fermata Pause – longer than a whole beat a tempo Back to the original tempo
Mood Italian Meaning agitato agitated alla marcia in a march style amoroso loving calmato calm dolce soft and sweet energico energetic giocoso playful, humorous grandioso grandly pesante heavy risoluto resolute – strong, confident, bold sospirando sighing trionfale triumphant
Dynamics Symbol stands for meaning Pianissimo Very quiet piano quiet Mezzo piano Fairly quiet Mezzo Forte Fairly loud forte loud fortissimo Very loud Crescendo (cresc.) Getting louder Diminuendo (dim.) Getting quieter
Articulation Staccato Slur