Allegro Moderato: Moderately quick, between allegretto and allegro (116–120 BPM)
Allegro moderato means moderately quick, a tempo of roughly 116-120 BPM that holds a lively pace back from full allegro speed.
Allegro Moderato Metronome: 116 to 120 BPM
Press play to hear Allegro Moderato at 118 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 Allegro Moderato Means
Allegro moderato sits precisely between allegretto and allegro, indicating a tempo that is lively but held back from full allegro speed. It combines the energy of allegro with the restraint of moderato, resulting in a balanced, forward-moving tempo that avoids extremes.
Etymology
Italian, 'allegro' (lively) + 'moderato' (moderate), literally 'moderately lively'
BPM Range
Minimum: 116 BPM
Maximum: 120 BPM
Typical: 118 BPM
Think of allegro moderato as a controlled allegro, maintain energy and forward drive, but with enough restraint for clarity and precision in every passage.
Allegro Moderato in Real Music
Allegro moderato is a compound marking that works as a brake. A composer who writes it wants allegro character with the tempo reined in, usually because the music carries dense textures or long-lined melody that would blur at higher speed. Schubert marked the first movement of his Unfinished Symphony Allegro moderato, and the restraint is structural: the famous cello and viola second theme needs room to breathe, and the low-string opening would lose its menace if hurried. Sibelius opens his Violin Concerto with an Allegro moderato, letting the solo violin's entry emerge over shimmering strings before the movement builds toward its cadenza, and Grieg pushed the qualifier further still in his Piano Concerto's Allegro molto moderato. The marking is a nineteenth-century habit more than a Baroque or early Classical one, appearing as composers became increasingly specific about tempo rather than trusting convention. Its narrow 116-120 BPM band overlaps allegretto below it and butts against allegro at 120 BPM above, so in practice performers treat it as a character instruction: keep the energy and forward drive of allegro, but choose clarity over excitement wherever the two conflict. Passagework should stay articulate and accompaniment figures should stay even rather than becoming a wash of motion.
Example Pieces
- Symphony No. 9, 1st movement (Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso), Ludwig van Beethoven
- Piano Concerto No. 3, 1st movement (Allegro con brio, sometimes interpreted allegro moderato), Ludwig van Beethoven
- Symphony No. 2, 1st movement (Allegro non troppo), Johannes Brahms
Common Genres
Related Tempo Markings
Frequently Asked Questions
What BPM is allegro moderato?
Allegro moderato is typically 116-120 BPM, sitting in the narrow range between allegretto and allegro.
How does allegro moderato differ from allegro?
Allegro moderato is slightly slower and more restrained than allegro. The 'moderato' qualifier pulls back the tempo, adding a sense of measure and control.
Is allegro moderato slower than allegro?
Yes. Allegro moderato sits at 116-120 BPM while allegro runs 120-156 BPM, so allegro is faster and can be considerably so. The moderato qualifier deliberately restrains the tempo for clarity.
What pieces are marked allegro moderato?
Schubert marked the first movement of his Unfinished Symphony Allegro moderato, and Sibelius opens his Violin Concerto with the same marking. Grieg's Piano Concerto uses the related Allegro molto moderato.
Is allegro moderato faster than allegretto?
Marginally. Allegro moderato runs 116-120 BPM while allegretto spans 112-120 BPM, so the two overlap heavily. Allegro moderato leans toward allegro's drive, while allegretto keeps a lighter, more graceful character.
Related References
Practise Allegro Moderato at Any Tempo
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