Doppio valore

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff where the change begins, at a point where the same notation should now move at half speed; it lasts until a tempo, Tempo I or another tempo word. It is rare, so a reader should check the surrounding notation for the intended relationship.

How Composers Use It

It halves the effective speed by doubling every note’s duration — the reverse of doppio movimento. Modern notation usually achieves the same thing by writing longer values or by a note-value equation (half = quarter), which most performers read faster than the Italian phrase. Use it only where rewriting the notation would be awkward, and consider printing the equation as well.

Related Terms