Definition
Tempo giusto (Italian for “proper tempo” or “in the right time”) is a musical term indicating that a passage should be performed at a steady, appropriate speed, without excessive flexibility or rubato. It is used as a tempo marking in scores to convey the composer's intention that the music be played in a regular, measured pulse, often in contrast to more expressive or freely timed sections.
Etymology
The phrase combines the Italian noun tempo (“time, tempo”) with the adjective giusto (“right, proper, correct”). The construction follows standard Italian syntax for describing an appropriate manner of execution.
Historical Usage
The indication tempo giusto appears in Western art music from the late Baroque period onward. Notable examples include:
- Johann Sebastian Bach’s Well‑Tempered Clavier and various keyboard works, where tempo giusto is sometimes specified for movements requiring a strict, measured pace.
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart occasionally employed tempo giusto to denote sections that should maintain a consistent tempo, particularly in his symphonies and operas.
- Ludwig van Beethoven used the term in several piano sonatas and chamber works to contrast sections with a more relaxed or expressive tempo.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, tempo giusto continued to serve as a precise directive, especially in the works of composers who emphasized structural clarity, such as Anton Bruckner and Igor Stravinsky.
Interpretation in Performance Practice
When a performer encounters tempo giusto in a score, the typical interpretive approach involves:
- Establishing a clear, steady pulse that aligns with the indicated metrical value.
- Avoiding excessive rubato (the practice of subtly speeding up or slowing down for expressive effect) unless expressly indicated elsewhere.
- Maintaining the tempo consistently throughout the passage, unless a subsequent tempo marking overrides it.
The term may be supplemented by metronome markings or other qualitative descriptors (e.g., Allegro, Andante) to further specify the desired speed.
Relation to Other Tempo Terms
Tempo giusto is distinct from, yet related to, several other tempo indications:
| Term | Literal meaning | Typical usage |
|---|---|---|
| Allegro | “fast, lively” | General fast tempo |
| Andante | “walking pace” | Moderate tempo |
| Rubato | “stolen time” | Flexible, expressive timing |
| Metronomic | Refers to strict adherence to a metronome | Emphasizes precision, similar to tempo giusto but more mechanical |
While rubato encourages temporal flexibility for expressive purposes, tempo giusto explicitly calls for stability and proportionate pacing.
Contemporary Usage
In modern musical notation software and scholarly texts, tempo giusto is still employed as a standard Italian tempo marking. It appears in editions of historic scores, analytical literature, and performance practice manuals. The term is also recognized in educational curricula for classical music performance and theory.