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At a moderate speed, typically 108–120 BPM.
Moderato sits in the center of the tempo spectrum. It rarely appears alone in Classical or Romantic music — it more commonly modifies another marking (Allegro moderato). Use it when you want the music to be neither leisurely nor energetic.
Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance" March No. 1 — the famous trio section is Moderato, giving the broad melody its stately, processional character.
Moderato is one of 228 terms in the Gradus musical dictionary, where every definition is written around how composers actually use the word.
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