Slow and mournful or lively and energetic performance of a song or etude seriously affects the perception of a musical work. What turns an artist’s performance into a fun march or an airy measured waltz is called pace. What determines such a different style of performance?
Pace in practice
By definition, tempo is the speed at which notes are played on an instrument. It depends on the frequency of the sequence of sounds. The faster the counting units change, the more lively the performance becomes. The musician learns about what the tempo should be by the inscriptions that are placed above the stave. They are understood by an experienced performer and barely noticeable to a beginner. These are the terms “adagio” (slow), “moderato” (restrained), “presto” (fast), “allegro” (fun), “prestissimo” (fast-fast), etc.
Life in the rhythm of a waltz or endless rush
In order to consider the concept from the practical side, it is best to use a metronome. This is a device that rhythmically beats off uniform hits in a certain period of time. If you use a metronome to recognize the tempo, the device will give out an “adagio” smooth rhythm with a frequency of 40-48 beats per minute, for “moderato” it will change to 80-96, with “pesto” it will increase to 184-200, with “allegro” ”Will accelerate to 120-144, while quickly-quickly,“ prestissimo ”, it will accelerate to 192-208.
Each work in style and content often requires a special speed, because the performer with experience has a feeling of the right frequency of strokes. An example is the classic waltz of G. Fortea. Above the stave of dance pieces you can see the inscription "moderato", it requires a restrained, unhurried performance of the piece from the musician.
In the treasury of the traditional genre there are dance opuses at the fun speed of “allegro” and even to “presto”, but this is rather an exception to the rule than the usual practice. Agree, it would be difficult to perceive a lullaby at a pace quickly, quickly or almost immovably slow in improvisation on a solo guitar.
At high speed
The fast pace in music is characteristic of energetic musical genres, the fans of which are usually young people constantly hurrying somewhere. These are techno styles with rates in excess of 120 beats per minute. In fact, over the course of a single work, the speed of performance of notes can vary. As a rule, at first a slow pace is set, which grows by the middle, accelerates to fast-fast, and by the end it subsides again.