Premier mouvement

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff where the opening tempo resumes, nearly always abbreviated — 1er Mouvt or 1er Mouvement, with the er and t set as superscripts. It cancels every intervening tempo word and holds until the next one. Unlike Au Mouvt, which restores the tempo just interrupted, it points back to the very first heading.

Abbreviations: 1er Mouvt, 1er Mouvt., 1er mouvt, 1er Mouvement, 1er mouvement

How Composers Use It

Use it after an episode in a different tempo, when the return of the opening material should bring its opening pace with it. If only a ritardando or a brief rubato intervened, Au mouvement is the lighter instruction; save 1er Mouvt for a true change of tempo. In a piece with several tempo sections it removes any doubt about which earlier speed you mean — Ravel’s Pavane uses it three times for exactly that reason.

Example

Ravel, Pavane pour une infante défunte (piano), m. 12: “1er Mouvt” follows “un peu retenu” and “En élargissant” in the two bars before, restoring the opening pace; “1er Mouvement” returns at mm. 40 and 60.

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