Meno Mosso
Definition. Less motion — a tempo somewhat slower than the preceding section.
Detailed Explanation
Meno mosso, Italian for ‘less motion’, instructs the performer to slow the tempo to a degree less than the previous section. It is a relative marking — meno mosso means slower than what came immediately before, not slower in absolute terms.
The marking is common in 19th and 20th-century music. A typical use is in operatic ensemble scenes or symphonic transitions: a fast section gives way to a slightly slower one, marked meno mosso, where the orchestra and soloists settle into a more lyrical pace before perhaps speeding up again later.
Meno mosso differs from ritardando in that it specifies a step change rather than a gradual slowing. The new tempo is established immediately at the marking, not approached progressively.
Etymology
Italian, ‘less motion’ — meno (‘less’, from Latin minus) + mosso (‘moved’, past participle of muovere, ‘to move’).
In Practice
Establish the new tempo cleanly at the bar of the marking. Do not slow gradually; meno mosso is a step, not a curve. In ensemble work, the conductor or section leader sets the new pulse at the marking.
Notable Examples
- Tchaikovsky — Symphony No. 5 (frequent meno mosso markings)
- Puccini — Various operas (common in transitional passages)
Related Terms
Opposite Of
Frequently Asked Questions
Was bedeutet Meno Mosso in der Musik?
Less motion — a tempo somewhat slower than the preceding section.
Woher kommt das Wort Meno Mosso?
Italian, ‘less motion’ — meno (‘less’, from Latin minus) + mosso (‘moved’, past participle of muovere, ‘to move’).
Wie wird Meno Mosso in der Praxis ausgeführt?
Establish the new tempo cleanly at the bar of the marking. Do not slow gradually; meno mosso is a step, not a curve. In ensemble work, the conductor or section leader sets the new pulse at the marking.
Welche Musikbegriffe hängen mit Meno Mosso zusammen?
Verwandte Begriffe: Più Mosso, Tempo Comodo, Ritenuto.
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