Gehender

As Printed on a Score

As a comparative it marks a slightly quicker walking pace and holds until the next tempo word. Most printed instances are not comparatives, though: in “In gehender Bewegung” the -er is a case ending, and the phrase simply means “in walking motion”. Read the words around it before treating it as a tempo change.

How Composers Use It

Moving on a little — the German più andante in the modern sense of a slightly quicker walk. It suits a middle section that should gain motion without changing character. Because the adjective form is so common in headings, a comparative Gehender is clearest standing alone or as Etwas gehender.

Example

Schubert, Winterreise, D. 911, No. 1, “Gute Nacht”, voice, m. 1: “Mässig, in gehender Bewegung” — here gehender is the adjective “walking” after in, not the comparative.

Related Terms