is Presto 144+ or 168+ ?

[cwjalex]

on every metronome that i have seen presto is labeled 168+ but in some books i have presto is marked as 144+.  so which is it and why the difference?

[awesom_o]

Presto isn't a number. Presto is a feeling.


 

[cwjalex]

Presto isn't a number. Presto is a feeling.


 

so you're saying it's subjective and that all the comments i see on youtube of people claiming something should be faster because it's marked "presto" should shove it? 

[awesom_o]

Those were your words, not mine. 

All I said was that presto is a feeling, not a number!

[cwjalex]

Those were your words, not mine. 

All I said was that presto is a feeling, not a number!

okay okay so you're saying it's subjective?

[awesom_o]

Personally, I think it depends on the composer and on who is playing.

Is the meaning of presto subjective? Not particularly, as tempo markings go.

Of course, that doesn't mean that two different pieces, both marked 'presto' by the composer, necessarily have to be played at the exact same tempo.

Similarly, two artists could play the same work, marked 'presto', at different speeds, and both could be equally valid interpretations.   

It really depends, you see, upon what you have to say as an artist, and upon the manner in which you deliver your message!

[dima_76557]

-

[quantum]

In addition, the general consensus of "presto" has changed over time.  A baroque marking of "presto" does not equate to a 20th century composers ideas of what they want when marking "presto."

In short, it is a relative indication for the feel of tempo.  It is not a range of quantitative speed values.

[stoat_king]

so you're saying it's subjective and that all the comments i see on youtube of people claiming something should be faster because it's marked "presto" should shove it? 

Lol @ taking comments on youtube to heart.
You need to stop that or get yourself a whole bunch of migraine meds.

I could give examples but tbh examples of the idiocy im talking about are trivially easy to find.
Not sure why uploads of classical music attract so many trolls. Wordy, mealy-mouthed ones too.