TEMPO

Tempo is the speed at which a piece of music is to be performed.

It is usually indicated through written instructions in the upper left corner of a document. Usually these terms are in Italian.
(allegro, moderato, adagio for example. see listing below in my “Midi Metronome Files” Section.)

After the invention of the metronome the tempo of printed music began to be indicated with numerical markings.

METRONOME

This mechanical device is often credited to Johann Nepomuk Maelzel (1772-1838) who was a friend of Beethoven’s. (Beethoven, in fact, was the first classical composer to use metronome markings in his music.)

Maelzel is believed to have copied the design of a Dutch inventor named Dietrich Nikolaus Winkel (c.1776-1826). To this invention he added a scale of tempo divisions and markings on the pendulum. He then patented the device and named it the “metronome”. For illustrations you can click here.

Today we often use much the same device when we practice our music, but we also have other variations. Metronomes can be spring wound or electric. They can be digital like your watch, and these days one can even have “software metronomes” for your computer.

(For sources of metronome software see links below.)

Metronome markings are indicated in 2 ways. For example:

1. M.M. = 60 (the “M.M.” is short for “Maelzel Metronome”)

Here you set your metronome to “60” for a rate of 60 clicks per minute.

2. The modern way is to indicate the note value and beat speed as in:

(The note indicates what kind of note is being counted and the number tells how many beats in a minute.


MY MIDI METRONOME FILES

Below you will find metronome files that you can use as a metronome. I have included many popular speeds. To hear them you will need a computer that is equipped with a sound card and that has a midi player. For sources and information about midi files see the information at the bottom of the Current Assignments Page.

You can use these midi files to get an idea of the speed that music should be performed or you can use them while practicing, to ensure that you maintain a steady speed.

Hint: Work with a slow tempo first, then see if you can master your exercises at a faster one.

To play my files click on the appropriate speed for your piece. Each sound file is about 20 minutes in length. Once a file has been downloaded to your internet browser, you need not be on the internet. You can also down load the metronome file to your computer for later use.

Here are the tempo markings.

SOME COMMON TEMPO MARKS AND THEIR APPROXIMATE EQUIVALENTS (all numbers refer to beats per minute)


Largo = "large," very slowly, broad, solemn: 40-60

40
46
54


Larghetto or Grave = moderately slow, heavy: 60-66

60


Adagio = "at ease," slowly, leisurely: 66-76

66
68
70
76

Andante = "to walk," walking unhurriedly: 76-108

78
80
90
96
100

Moderato = "moderate," moderately fast: 108-120

108
110

Allegretto = "less lively," quick: 120-130

120


Allegro = "lively," rapid, brisk: 130-140

130



Allegro Molto = "more lively", very rapid, very brisk: 140-150

140

Vivace = "lively," spirited, animated: 150-168

150
160

Presto = "quick," very fast: 168-200

168
170
180
190

Prestissimo = as fast as possible 200-208

200

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SOURCES FOR SOFTWARE METRONOMES
Here is a metronome for Windows Computers

Here is a metronome for Macintosh Computers

There are also some listings for freeware and shareware metronomes at Shareware Music Machine .com

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Last updated 1/22/03