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
음악에서 A Tempo의 뜻은 무엇인가요?
Return to the original tempo — used after a passage of ritardando, accelerando, rubato, or other tempo modification.
A Tempo의 어원은 무엇인가요?
Italian, literally ‘at tempo’ — a (‘at’) + tempo (‘time, pace’).
A Tempo의 실제 연주 방법은 무엇인가요?
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.
A Tempo의 흔한 줄임말은 무엇인가요?
A Tempo의 흔한 줄임말은 a tempo입니다.
A Tempo에 관련된 음악 용어는 무엇인가요?
관련 용어: Tempo Primo, L'istesso Tempo.
Practice with Songtive's free tools
Hear this term applied — explore chord charts, fingerings and the music engine.
Piano chordsGuitar chordsVirtual piano
