A Tempo: Return to the previous tempo (1–300 BPM)
A tempo means return to the previous tempo after a change, so its actual speed can be anywhere from 1-300 BPM.
A Tempo Metronome: 1 to 300 BPM
Press play to hear A Tempo at 120 BPM, or switch to the slow and fast ends of the range.
Loops until you press Stop. Beat 1 is accented so you can feel where the bar starts.
What A Tempo Means
A tempo is one of the most common tempo instructions in all of music, meaning 'return to the original tempo.' It appears after a temporary change in speed, such as a ritardando (slowing down), accelerando (speeding up), or a cadenza. A tempo signals that the momentary departure is over and the established pulse should be restored.
Etymology
Italian, 'a' (to/at) + 'tempo' (time/tempo), literally 'at tempo' or 'in time'
BPM Range
Minimum: 1 BPM
Maximum: 300 BPM
Typical: 120 BPM
When returning a tempo, re-establish the original pulse cleanly and promptly. Avoid a gradual drift back, the return should feel natural but definite, like clicking back into gear.
A Tempo in Real Music
A tempo is not a speed at all; it is a pointer back to whatever speed was in force before the music departed from it. That makes it one of the most frequently printed instructions in music, and it appears wherever a composer writes flexibility into a score. Chopin's Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2, is peppered with them, each one closing off a moment of stretched, ornamental freedom and restoring the underlying pulse the left-hand accompaniment keeps. Debussy's Clair de Lune uses the marking repeatedly after its many ritardandos, and Satie's Gymnopedie No. 1 does the same on a smaller scale. In Baroque and early Classical scores it is much rarer, because rubato was largely a performer's prerogative rather than a notated event; the marking proliferates in the nineteenth century alongside ritardando, accelerando and rallentando. It is also standard in film and popular sheet music for exactly the same reason. Two distinctions matter in practice. A tempo restores the immediately preceding tempo, while tempo primo, often written Tempo I, returns to the very first tempo of the piece, which may be different. And a tempo says nothing about strictness, unlike tempo giusto. The return itself should sound deliberate rather than gradual.
Example Pieces
- Clair de Lune (multiple a tempo markings after ritardandos), Claude Debussy
- Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2 (frequent a tempo markings), Frédéric Chopin
- Gymnopédie No. 1 (a tempo after ritardandos), Erik Satie
Common Genres
Related Tempo Markings
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a tempo mean in music?
A tempo means 'return to the previous tempo.' It appears after a tempo change (like ritardando or accelerando) and instructs the performer to resume the original speed.
What is the difference between a tempo and tempo primo?
A tempo means return to the immediately preceding tempo, while tempo primo (Tempo I) means return to the very first tempo of the piece. A tempo is local; tempo primo is global.
Is a tempo a specific speed?
No. A tempo has no fixed BPM of its own; it restores whatever tempo was in force before the change. Depending on the piece, that could be anywhere across the full 1-300 BPM spectrum.
What is the difference between a tempo and tempo giusto?
A tempo restores the previous speed after a ritardando, accelerando or cadenza. Tempo giusto instead demands strict, exact time, typically around 80-120 BPM, and says nothing about returning to an earlier tempo.
Where does a tempo appear in music?
A tempo appears after any temporary tempo change. Chopin's Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2, Debussy's Clair de Lune and Satie's Gymnopedie No. 1 all use it repeatedly after passages of stretched time.
Related References
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