Moderato

What it means

Moderato means “moderate” and designates a medium tempo between andante and allegretto. As a guideline, about 108 to 120 beats per minute are often given; the figures vary from edition to edition. What is meant is a tempo without extremes — the music moves steadily, without pressing forward and without lingering.

The word has two uses. As an independent tempo word it heads movements and sections. As an addition it moderates another tempo word, for instance in allegro moderato or andante moderato, and works there similarly to ma non troppo. The difference is fine: ma non troppo sets an upper limit, moderato shifts the reference point toward the middle.

The German equivalent is mässig.

In the notation

The marking stands in italics above the first staff of a movement or section and often becomes the movement's name. As an addition it follows the base word. Metronome numbers next to it often come from the editor and are to be read as a guideline.

Musical use

Moderato heads movements whose theme needs time to speak, as well as music with dense accompaniment that would become restless at a higher tempo. It is widespread in marches, in song-like movements, and in variation sequences whose theme is kept simple. In pedagogical literature it stands often, because it designates a tempo that seems lively without being technically demanding. In multi-part movements it often forms the starting point from which later sections deviate faster or slower.

The marking stands alone or as an addition to other tempos.

Performance practice

Find the tempo through the longest phrase and the densest passage at once: both must be possible without effort. Keep the pulse stable and shape through articulation and dynamics rather than through tempo changes — at a medium tempo, every wavering stands out especially. Take care that the accompaniment does not become heavier than the melody, otherwise the moderation seems sluggish. And check any addition before committing yourself.