Ben moderato

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff as a tempo heading, inside one (Allegretto ben moderato), or where the pace resettles after a rit. and a tempo; it lasts until a new tempo word.

How Composers Use It

Ben moderato underlines moderation: keep the tempo truly restrained. Inside a compound heading such as Allegretto ben moderato it reins in the main word. Use it where performers tend to hurry — a lilting song, a light dance — and add a metronome mark if the balance between the two words matters.

Example

Chaminade, Madrigal, voice, m. 9: “ben moderato.” at p, a bar after “a tempo.”, in a song headed “Allegretto molto moderato.”

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