Fließend

As Printed on a Score

Printed as a heading or above the staff mid-piece, alone or compounded (Sehr fliessend, Sanft fliessend, Allmählich fliessender); some editions add the Italian scorrevole beside it. It holds until the next tempo word. Fliessend is the common spelling of fließend.

Also spelled: fliessend

How Composers Use It

Flowing: a moderate, moving tempo with smooth continuity, often used by Mahler, Wolf and Webern where an Italian score might say con moto or scorrevole. It warns against heaviness and rigid beats. Use it when the line should never stop moving forward; a slow tempo can be fließend, a fast one rarely needs it.

Example

Webern, Five Songs on poems from “Der siebente Ring”, Op. 3, No. 1, “Dies ist ein Lied für dich allein”, voice, m. 1: “Fliessend”, with “Zart bewegt” beside it, at pp.

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