Tempo and Dynamics

Tempo and Dynamics

1. Tempo and Dynamics

2. Tempo The speed or a pace of a piece. Listen to different tempos. Tap to the steady beat. Chopin, Piano Concerto no. 2, 2 nd Movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= Q_dSI0gVbp0 Haydn, Symphony No. 98, Finale http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= QtIfVLHLeaQ

3. Tempo Measurement Tempo is measured in beats per minute (BPM ) Allegro (fast tempo, the speed of a quarter note is 120 beats per minute): Allegro

4. Metronome A device that produces regular, metrical ticks (beats, clicks) . http ://www.youtube.com/watch?v= gsJEMH_emBM

5. Tempo Markings Tempo markings are mostly in Italian. They are placed in the beginning of a piece. Open the following score and look for the following Italian tempo markings: Largo, Allegro, Vivace , Allegro. Then, listen to the composition and try to determine what these markings mean. A. Corelli, Concerto Grosso in C Minor, op. 6 no. 3 http://erato.uvt.nl/files/imglnks/usimg/1/1a/IMSLP254974-PMLP28008-Corelli_-_Concerto_grosso_No3_in_CM_for_2_Solo-Violins__Solo- Cello__Strings_and_Piano__Schering__score.pdf http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/concerto-grosso-in-c-minot-arcangelo-corelli /

6. Basic Slow Tempo Markings Grave – slow and solemn (20–40 BPM) Lento – slowly (40–45 BPM) Largo – broadly (45–50 BPM) Larghetto – rather broadly (50–55 BPM) Adagio – slow and stately (literally, "at ease") (55–65 BPM) Andante – at a walking pace (73–77 BPM) Moderato – moderately (86–97 BPM)

7. Basic Fast Tempo Markings Allegro – fast, quickly and bright (109–132 BPM) Vivace – lively and fast (132–140 BPM) Presto – very fast (168–177 BPM )

8. Fast Tempos Allegro – 109 - 132 BPM Beethoven , Sonata No. 8, “ Patetique ”, 3 rd Mvt . http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/sforster-beethoventhree/

9. Fast Tempos Vivace – 132 - 140 BPM Presto – 168 – 177 BPM W. A. Mozart, Sinfonia Concertante in E Flat Major, 3 rd Movement http ://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/sinfonia-concertante-for-violin-viola-and-orchestra-wolfgang-amadeus-mozart

10. Slow Tempos Grave – 20 - 40 BPM Beethoven, Sonata No. 8, “ Patetique ”, 1 st Mvt . http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/sforster-beethoventhree /

11. Slow Tempos Lento – 40 - 45 BPM Largo – 45 - 50 BPM F. Chopin, Prelude No. 4 in E Minor http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/ilic-fugitive /

12. Slow Tempos Adagio – 55 - 65 BPM Beethoven, Sonata No. 8, “ Patetique ”, 2 nd Mvt . http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/sforster-beethoventhree/

13. Slow Tempos Andante – 73 - 77 BPM Haydn, Symphony No. 104 in D, “London”, 2 nd movement, Andante http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/symphony-no-104-in-d-london-franz-joseph-haydn / Moderato – 86 - 97 BPM

14. Terms for Tempo Changes Accelerando – speeding up (abbreviation: accel . ) Ritenuto or Rallentando – gradual slowing down Rubato – free adjustment of tempo for expressive purposes . F. Chopin, Waltz No. 12 in E Major http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/jjohnson-chopin / G. Gershwin, “Rhapsody in Blue” http ://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/rhapsody-in-blue-for-piano-and-jazz-band-george-gershwin /

15. Tempo Changes An example of Ritenuto : R . Schumann, Piano Concerto https ://www.thespco.org/es/programs/schumanns-piano-concerto http://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/3/39/IMSLP31875-PMLP03738-Schumann_-_Piano_Concerto__Op._54__orch._score_.pdf

16. Dynamics p or piano , meaning " soft” f or forte , meaning "loud .” More subtle degrees of loudness or softness are indicated by: mp , standing for mezzo-piano , meaning "moderately soft", and mf , standing for mezzo-forte , meaning "moderately loud”. Beyond f and p , there are also pp , standing for "pianissimo" and meaning "very soft", and ff , standing for "fortissimo" and meaning "very loud".[5]

17. Listen for the dynamic changes in W. A. Mozart’s, Overture to “The Marriage of Figaro”. Look for the dynamic markings in the score before you start listening: pp , p, ff , p (next four pages). http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/overture-to-the-marriage-of-figaro-wolfgang-amadeus-mozart / http://conquest.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/8/8e/IMSLP01198- The_Marriage_of_Figaro_Overture.pdf

18. Dynamics Changes The following terms can be identified with cresc ., dim., or the graphics below: Crescendo – gradually play louder. Diminuendo – gradually play softer.

19. Please listen for the dynamics changes in the following example with the score. F. Chopin, Piano Concerto No. 1, 1 st Movement, Allegro maestoso http ://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/3/37 / IMSLP121206 -PMLP03805-FChopin_Piano_Concerto_No.1__Op.11_BH12. pdf http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0y- rhw73Fo

20. Beethoven, Symphony 1, 3 rd Movement, Menuetto http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/symphony-no-1-ludwig-van-beethoven /

21. Required Readings http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Tempo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Music_dynamics