Allegro

Fast and lively

Allegro literally means “cheerful” and describes a character as well as a speed: fast, bright and lively. On the scale of tempo markings it lies at about 120–156 beats per minute. Higher up come Vivace (lively) and Presto (very fast), below it Moderato and Andante. The words are elastic and leave room to the performer, which is why a bpm figure is often added as well. The page Tempo explains the connections.

Additions to Allegro

A tempo word can be adjusted by additions: “Poco Allegro” is a little less fast, “Allegro moderato” is moderately fast. Allegretto lies between Moderato and Allegro, a somewhat more restrained Allegro. If you play pieces, you will see the marking above the first bar.

Guitar

• Etüde Nr. 7 Matteo Carcassi, op. 60 No. 7 · guitar · 2 pages

  The heading reads “Allegro”, printed above the first bar.

• Etüde Nr. 11 Mauro Giuliani, op. 100 No. 11 · guitar

  The movement carries the instruction “Allegro” and the subtitle “Caprice”. It is in 4/4 with no key signature and begins with A minor.

• Etüde Nr. 14 Mauro Giuliani, op. 100 No. 14 · guitar

  Also “Allegro”, in 4/4 with two sharps. The first chord is D major.

• Gitarrenschule, Stück Nr. 20 Ferdinando Carulli · guitar

  Here it says “Poco Allegro”, so a little less fast than Allegro. 3/8 with one flat, the beginning is F major.

• Etüde Nr. 15 Matteo Carcassi, op. 60 No. 15 · guitar

  Headed “Allegro moderato”, so moderately fast. 4/4 with no key signature, beginning with C major.

Practising Allegro

Start clearly slower than you want to end up playing the piece, and speed up only when a passage comes off three times in a row without a mistake. Tempo is the reward for accuracy, not its substitute.

Common mistakes

• Starting too fast: Allegro means lively, not rushed.
• Reading Allegro as a fixed number: It is a range, not a single value.
• Overlooking the additions: “Poco Allegro” and “Allegro moderato” are slower than “Allegro”.