Tempestoso

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff as a character word, alone or after a fast tempo word, at the start of a stormy movement or section, and in force until the next character or tempo word. Dynamics and accents are marked separately.

How Composers Use It

Tempestoso asks for a storm: violent, surging energy, sudden dynamic swings and turbulent figuration. It is more elemental than agitato (nervous) and more chaotic than furioso (anger). Because the word cannot create turbulence the notes lack, keep it for passages already built on rushing figures, tremolos and sharp contrasts, and mark the dynamics in full.

Related Terms