Presto ma non troppo

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the first system as a heading and in force until the next tempo word. The qualifier is part of the heading and lasts exactly as long as the Presto.

How Composers Use It

A Presto held back from its extreme: fast and lively, with enough room for detail, articulation and phrasing to come through. Use it when the music needs Presto’s energy but contains figuration, counterpoint or text that would blur at full speed. Allegro molto can sound similar; choose Presto ma non troppo when you want a presto’s breathless lightness at a manageable pace. Brahms’s near cousin is Presto ma non assai.

Related Terms