A Tempo
Definition. Return to the original tempo — used after a passage of ritardando, accelerando, rubato, or other tempo modification.
Detailed Explanation
A tempo, written as ‘a tempo’ in scores, instructs the performer to return to the original tempo of the piece. It is the standard cue used to close out any passage of tempo modification — ritardando, accelerando, rubato, allargando, or similar.
The marking is essential for ensemble coordination. Without an explicit ‘a tempo’, players have no way to know when the modified passage ends and the original pulse should resume. In conducted music the conductor’s gesture re-establishes the tempo; in chamber music and solo work, the performer must internalize the original pulse and recover it at the marked point.
A tempo is sometimes paired with other markings: a tempo, ma più tranquillo (‘at tempo, but more tranquil’) restores speed but adjusts character. Tempo primo is a stronger version meaning ‘the original tempo’ — used after extended passages where the original pulse has been thoroughly disturbed.
Etymology
Italian, literally ‘at tempo’ — a (‘at’) + tempo (‘time, pace’).
In Practice
Hear the original pulse before you play the first note after ‘a tempo’. Do not glide into it — recover it cleanly. In ensembles, the leader (conductor or first player) sets the pulse with a clear gesture or breath.
Notable Examples
- Most composers — Universal usage (found in virtually every score with tempo modification)
Related Terms
Opposite Of
Frequently Asked Questions
What does A Tempo mean in music?
Return to the original tempo — used after a passage of ritardando, accelerando, rubato, or other tempo modification.
Where does the word A Tempo come from?
Italian, literally ‘at tempo’ — a (‘at’) + tempo (‘time, pace’).
How is A Tempo performed in practice?
Hear the original pulse before you play the first note after ‘a tempo’. Do not glide into it — recover it cleanly. In ensembles, the leader (conductor or first player) sets the pulse with a clear gesture or breath.
What are common abbreviations for A Tempo?
A Tempo is commonly abbreviated as a tempo.
What musical terms are related to A Tempo?
Related terms include: Tempo Primo, L'istesso Tempo.
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