Faster

As Printed on a Score

A relative tempo word printed above the staff at the bar where the new speed begins, often qualified (rather faster, still faster, a little faster). It holds until the next tempo direction and is measured against the tempo before it.

How Composers Use It

The English più mosso, for a step change; for a gradual one write gradually faster or accel. A series of relative words (Rather faster, then Still faster) builds momentum in stages, but plan how the music finds its way back. A metronome figure at each step stops an ensemble arriving at different speeds.

Example

Warlock, Peterisms (first set), “Rutterkin”, voice, m. 24: “Rather faster”, then “Still faster” at m. 26 — two steps up from the song’s opening heading, “Boisterously”.

Related Terms