Q4 L1 Tempo

Lesson 1: Tempo
Another important that contributes to music expression is tempo. Tempo comes from the Latin word tempus,
which means “time”. It refers to the rate of speed in a composition. The tempo of a musical piece is usually
found at the beginning of the piece depending on the composer’s wish of how he wants his music to be
interpreted.
Below are the different kinds of tempo and their meanings that can be found in a musical composition. Just
like dynamics, tempo terms are also written in Italian.
ITALIAN TERM MEANING

Accelerando gradually becoming fast
Presto very fast
Vivace fast and lively
Allegro fast, lively and bright
Moderato at a moderate speed
Andantino a little faster than andante
Andante slow
Lento very slow
Adagio slow but not as slow as largo
Largo very very slow
Ritardando gradually becoming slow
A tempo to return to the original speed of the piece
Lesson 1: Tempo
Another important that contributes to music expression is tempo. Tempo comes from the Latin word tempus,
which means “time”. It refers to the rate of speed in a composition. The tempo of a musical piece is usually
found at the beginning of the piece depending on the composer’s wish of how he wants his music to be
interpreted.
Below are the different kinds of tempo and their meanings that can be found in a musical composition. Just
like dynamics, tempo terms are also written in Italian.
ITALIAN TERM MEANING

Accelerando gradually becoming fast
Presto very fast
Vivace fast and lively
Allegro fast, lively and bright
Moderato at a moderate speed
Andantino a little faster than andante
Andante slow
Lento very slow
Adagio slow but not as slow as largo
Largo very very slow
Ritardando gradually becoming slow
A tempo to return to the original speed of the piece
There are, however, tempo markings that are not written in Italian such as German, French, and English.
Tempo descriptions may even be written in the language of the composer, like Filipino. Here are examples of
tempo in different languages.
English- March Tempo, Lively, Calmly, with Energy
Filipino- Mabilis, Mabagal
German- Langsam (slowly), Schnell (fast)
French- Lent (slow), Rapide (fast)
Remember
>The rate of speed in music is called tempo. >Italian terms are used to indicate the tempo of a piece >The slow
levels of tempo are largo, adagio, lento, andante, and andantino.
>The fast levels of tempo include allegro, presto and vivace.
>Accelerando indicates a gradual increase in tempo while ritardando indicates a gradual decrease in tempo.
There are, however, tempo markings that are not written in Italian such as German, French, and English.
Tempo descriptions may even be written in the language of the composer, like Filipino. Here are examples of
tempo in different languages.
English- March Tempo, Lively, Calmly, with Energy
Filipino- Mabilis, Mabagal
German- Langsam (slowly), Schnell (fast)
French- Lent (slow), Rapide (fast)
Remember
>The rate of speed in music is called tempo. >Italian terms are used to indicate the tempo of a piece >The slow
levels of tempo are largo, adagio, lento, andante, and andantino.
>The fast levels of tempo include allegro, presto and vivace.
>Accelerando indicates a gradual increase in tempo while ritardando indicates a gradual decrease in tempo.
Lesson 2: Learning to Listen to Musical Texture
Kinds of Texture
Monophonic
Monophonic Texture refers to the simplest pattern of musical texture. It is a musical
composition with a single melodic line without accompaniment. It may be sung by an
individual person or a group of people as long as there is a single musical voice and the same
notes are performed in unison. The song “Simple Gifts” is a composition written in a single
melodic line without accompaniment.
Homophonic
Homophonic texture is a composition with a single melodic line accompanied by a musical
instrument. The focus is given on the relationship of the main melody and on the
accompaniment. In the piece, “Turkey in the Straw”, the min melody is heard on the upper
staff, while the chords for the accompaniment are heard on the lower staff.
Lesson 2: Learning to Listen to Musical Texture

Kinds of Texture
Monophonic
Monophonic Texture refers to the simplest pattern of musical texture. It is a musical
composition with a single melodic line without accompaniment. It may be sung by an
individual person or a group of people as long as there is a single musical voice and the same
notes are performed in unison. The song “Simple Gifts” is a composition written in a single
melodic line without accompaniment.
Homophonic
Homophonic texture is a composition with a single melodic line accompanied by a musical
instrument. The focus is given on the relationship of the main melody and on the
accompaniment. In the piece, “Turkey in the Straw”, the min melody is heard on the upper
staff, while the chords for the accompaniment are heard on the lower staff.
Polyphonic
When a musical composition is written in two or more independent melodic lines, a
polyphonic texture is produced. It has a complex sound compared to monophonic and
homophonic music. This kind of texture is frequently used in a canon or round, choral,
instrumental ensemble, or orchestral music. Below is an example of a choral arrangement with
a polyphonic texture.
Remember
 Musical texture refers to the general quality of one or numerous layers of sound heard
at the same time. It refers to the thinness, thickness, lightness, and heaviness of the
sound of a musical composition.
 The kinds of texture are monophonic, homophonic, and polyphonic.
 Monophonic texture is a composition with one melodic line without accompaniment.
 Homophonic texture is a composition with one melodic line with accompaniment.
 Polyphonic texture is a composition with two or more melodic lines, which make it
thicker and heavier than compositions with monophonic or homophonic texture
Polyphonic
When a musical composition is written in two or more independent melodic lines, a
polyphonic texture is produced. It has a complex sound compared to monophonic and
homophonic music. This kind of texture is frequently used in a canon or round, choral,
instrumental ensemble, or orchestral music. Below is an example of a choral arrangement with
a polyphonic texture.
Remember
 Musical texture refers to the general quality of one or numerous layers of sound heard
at the same time. It refers to the thinness, thickness, lightness, and heaviness of the
sound of a musical composition.
 The kinds of texture are monophonic, homophonic, and polyphonic.
 Monophonic texture is a composition with one melodic line without accompaniment.
 Homophonic texture is a composition with one melodic line with accompaniment.
 Polyphonic texture is a composition with two or more melodic lines, which make it
thicker and heavier than compositions with monophonic or homophonic texture

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Lesson 1: Tempo

ITALIAN TERM MEANING

ITALIAN TERM MEANING

Lesson 2: Learning to Listen to Musical Texture

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