L'istesso Tempo
Definition. The same tempo — usually applied at a meter change, instructing the performer to keep the beat constant.
Detailed Explanation
L’istesso tempo (often written as ‘l’istesso tempo’ or ‘istesso tempo’) means ‘the same tempo’. The marking is used at points where the music could naturally suggest a tempo change — most often a meter change or a shift in note values — and the composer wishes to make explicit that the beat should remain constant.
For example, a passage in 6/8 followed by a passage in 2/4 with the marking ‘l’istesso tempo’ tells the performer that the dotted quarter of the 6/8 equals the quarter of the 2/4. The pulse remains identical even though the meter has changed.
The marking is essential for clarity in scores with metric modulation, common in the music of Carter, Babbitt, and other 20th-century composers, but also found in earlier music whenever a metric ambiguity might arise.
Etymology
Italian, ‘the same tempo’ — l’istesso (‘the same’) + tempo.
In Practice
Identify what unit (quarter, dotted quarter, eighth) is being equated. The marking is meaningless without that anchor. In ensemble work, agree on the unit explicitly during rehearsal.
Notable Examples
- Carter — Various works with metric modulation (standard usage)
- Brahms — Various meter changes (frequent l'istesso tempo markings)
Related Terms
Opposite Of
Frequently Asked Questions
What does L'istesso Tempo mean in music?
The same tempo — usually applied at a meter change, instructing the performer to keep the beat constant.
Where does the word L'istesso Tempo come from?
Italian, ‘the same tempo’ — l’istesso (‘the same’) + tempo.
How is L'istesso Tempo performed in practice?
Identify what unit (quarter, dotted quarter, eighth) is being equated. The marking is meaningless without that anchor. In ensemble work, agree on the unit explicitly during rehearsal.
What are common abbreviations for L'istesso Tempo?
L'istesso Tempo is commonly abbreviated as l'istesso tempo.
What musical terms are related to L'istesso Tempo?
Related terms include: A Tempo, Tempo Primo.
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