Ziemlich schnell

As Printed on a Score

Printed as a heading at the start of a song or movement, or above the staff where a new section begins; it holds until the next tempo word. Ziemlich means “rather” or “fairly”, so the heading asks for a moderately quick tempo, between Mäßig and Schnell.

How Composers Use It

The German counterpart of allegro moderato or allegretto in Schubert and Schumann songs. Because ziemlich is a hedge, the tempo lives in the figuration: Schubert’s “Erstarrung” and Schumann’s “Helft mir, ihr Schwestern” carry it over busy accompaniments that set the pace. Add a character word (Ziemlich schnell, leidenschaftlich) when speed alone does not say enough.

Example

Schubert, Winterreise, D. 911, No. 4, “Erstarrung”, voice, m. 1: “Ziemlich schnell” heads the song.

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