Moderato con moto

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the first system as a heading for a song or movement and in force until the next tempo word. German composers sometimes print the vernacular Mässig bewegt beside it, an exact translation that confirms the reading.

How Composers Use It

A moderate tempo with forward motion: steady, but with phrases always moving on. It is a practical heading for songs and lyrical pieces whose accompaniment flows in even figures. Since moderato already implies a middle tempo, con moto mainly guards against heaviness. If you want more lift, Allegretto is the next step; if you need more breadth, Andante con moto.

Example

Cornelius, 3 Lieder, Op. 4, “Komm, wir wandeln zusammen”, voice, m. 1: “Moderato con moto”, with the German “Mässig bewegt” alongside.

Related Terms