Mosso

As Printed on a Score

Mostly printed as part of a phrase above the staff — Più mosso, Meno mosso, Poco mosso, Andante mosso — and occasionally alone as a brief instruction. Più and Meno mosso are relative to the running tempo and last until a tempo, Tempo I or another tempo word.

How Composers Use It

Mosso means “moved”, that is, with motion, and it modifies a tempo rather than naming one: Andante mosso is a flowing andante, Più mosso a quicker pace than before. That relative quality makes it ideal for sectional contrasts within a movement — a quicker middle section, a calmer second theme. Always plan the return: the performer needs to know whether you mean Tempo I or simply a tempo when the section ends.

Example

Debussy, Arabesque No. 1 in E major, m. 47: “mosso”, printed alone with “cresc.” in the same bar, the dynamic climbing from p to f two bars later.

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