Appassionato

As Printed on a Score

Printed above or below the staff, alone mid-movement or in headings (Allegro appassionato, molto appassionato), often at a crescendo or climax. It lasts until a calmer word, a new tempo or the end of the passage, and pairs freely with tempo changes — ritenuto ed appassionato, stringendo molto e sempre fortissimo ed appassionato.

Also spelled: Appassionata

How Composers Use It

Appassionato demands the most intense emotional expression a performer can give. Use it for climactic moments of desperate yearning, fury, or ecstasy. It often implies rubato, dynamic extremes, and maximum vibrato.

Example

Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 23 ("Appassionata"), Op. 57 — the nickname reflects the work's volcanic emotional intensity.

Related Terms