Moderato assai

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the first system as a heading, or inside a longer tempo phrase such as Tempo di Bolero moderato assai, and in force until the next tempo word. In a long movement it may return as a section heading after faster or slower passages.

How Composers Use It

Assai here intensifies the moderation: a decidedly measured, steady tempo, neither slow nor quick. It suits music whose effect depends on steadiness — ostinatos, processions, songs with even accompaniments — where any drift would undo the design. Some performers read assai here as “rather” rather than “very”, so a metronome mark is the surest way to fix the speed.

Example

Ravel, Boléro, flute 1, m. 1: “Tempo di Bolero moderato assai”, the heading under which the snare drum begins its unchanging ostinato.

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