Andante con espressione

As Printed on a Score

A heading printed above the first system, sometimes with a comma (Andante, con espressione), and in force until the next tempo word. It is a Classical and early-Romantic form; later scores more often write Andante espressivo for the same idea.

How Composers Use It

Con espressione asks for expressive shaping — inflected dynamics, flexible phrasing — within the walking pace. Haydn heads the first movement of a keyboard sonata with it, choosing an expressive slow opening rather than a quick one, and Brahms uses it for early songs such as “Treue Liebe”. The marking implies feeling rather than slowness, so do not let it drag the Andante; if you want more breadth, say so with sostenuto or a slower tempo word.

Example

Haydn, Keyboard Sonata in C major, Hob. XVI:48, first movement, m. 1: “Andante con espressione”.

Related Terms