Mit Energie

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the first bar as a heading or over a passage, often with f below; Schumann uses it as a song’s sole heading. It holds until a new character or tempo word.

How Composers Use It

With energy: vigorous, driving, rhythmically firm — the German con energia. It implies strong attacks and forward momentum but no specific tempo, and energy here means drive rather than volume alone, so it can sit at mf as well as f. Use it for openings or passages that must not sag, and add a tempo word for pace.

Example

Schumann, Lieder und Gesänge, vol. IV, “Gesungen”, voice, m. 1: “Mit Energie” heads the song, at f.

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