what does tempo mean

[drazh]

hi there
what does tempo mean?
in some music sheet  I saw tempo 1 or tempo la marcia or something like that
what does it mean ?

[pianowolfi]

tempo means speed, time, pace. Tempo 1 for instance means that you have to play this part at the speed you started the piece (or the part before) after a temporary change. For instance: in an Allegro movement can appear a cadence, an andante part, an adagio recitativo, a rubato, a temporary slow down (ritardando or ritenuto, marked "rit.")  and after this the Allegro (or whatever tempo was before) goes on. Tempo alla marcia means in the time (or speed) of a march. Tempo giusto (one of the most discussed and seemingly difficult terms in music history) can mean to know at what speed or pace a particular piece in a certain style needs to be played, for instance a minuet, a mazurka, a waltz, a Passepied, a Chaconne, a Tango nuevo, a Sarabande and many more.
 

[go12_3]

There's a handy music dictionary in the forum on top of the page, just click and you will find whatever you need to know about tempo, etc.    

[quantum]

There's a handy music dictionary in the forum on top of the page, just click and you will find whatever you need to know about tempo, etc.    

Apparently it is a gold member feature

[go12_3]

Apparently it is a gold member feature

Oh, I didn't know that!  Sorry!  I just joined a few weeks ago.  = )