Moderato espressivo

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the first system as a heading, sometimes with further qualifiers — Molto moderato, espressivo e senza rigore — and in force until the next tempo word. The espressivo sets the manner for the whole passage, not a single phrase.

How Composers Use It

A moderate tempo shaped with expressive freedom: warm phrasing, flexible timing, inflected dynamics. It suits song and lyrical instrumental music, where a narrative line calls for a natural, unhurried pace that can bend with the words. Because espressivo implies rubato, say clearly when strict time is required, and avoid adding espr. to every phrase once it is in the heading.

Related Terms