Mäßig bewegt

As Printed on a Score

Printed as a heading above the first bar, sometimes with the Italian Moderato con moto beside it, and occasionally intensified (Sehr mässig bewegt); it holds until the next tempo word. Older editions spell it mässig; it is one direction, not two.

Also spelled: mässig bewegt, massig bewegt

How Composers Use It

A moderate tempo with steady forward motion — the German moderato con moto. It suits songs and movements that should flow without urgency. Its weakness is that it can sag; Wagner guards against that by adding aber nie schleppend. If the motion should feel lighter, leicht bewegt or zart bewegt describe the quality more precisely.

Example

Cornelius, Drei Lieder, Op. 4, “Komm, wir wandeln zusammen”, voice, m. 1: “Mässig bewegt”, printed with the Italian “Moderato con moto”.

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