Allegro appassionato

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff as a heading, typically at the start of a song or a movement, sometimes with a metronome mark; it governs until the next tempo word.

How Composers Use It

Fast and impassioned — the character word does as much work as the tempo word, asking for intensity and full-blooded tone. It is common in Romantic song, where the text’s emotion drives the music. Make the dynamics match the heading, and avoid piling further passion words on top of it; one is enough.

Example

Robert Franz, “Nachtlied” (12 Gesänge, Op. 1), voice, m. 1: “Allegro appassionato”, with the piano entering mf.

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