Immer schneller

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff at the start of an accelerating passage, sometimes followed by a dashed line; it continues until a new tempo word or the climax it drives toward.

How Composers Use It

Faster and faster: a sustained accelerando, typical of codas, whirling dances and climaxes. It asks for continuous acceleration, not a jump to a new tempo. Say where it ends — a new tempo word, a fermata, a Presto — so players know when to stop pushing, and check that the fastest notes remain playable at the top speed.

Related Terms