Moderato

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff alone as a heading or, very often, after another tempo word — Allegro moderato, Andante moderato — where it tempers that word rather than naming a speed of its own. Mid-movement, Moderato sets a new section’s tempo until the next tempo word; mod. occasionally appears in parts.

Abbreviations: mod.

How Composers Use It

Moderato sits in the middle of the tempo range. In Classical scores it mostly tempers another word (Allegro moderato) rather than standing alone; from Chopin on it often heads a movement or section by itself. Use it when the music should be neither leisurely nor driven, and add a metronome mark if the exact pace matters.

Example

Chopin, Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23, piano, m. 8: “Moderato.” follows the seven-bar “Largo.” introduction, arriving at p with “dolce”.

Related Terms