agitato
Agitated; restless and hurried in character.
In Depth
Agitato tells the performer to play with a restless, uneasy quality. It affects both the character and pacing of the music, often implying slight urgency without specifying an exact tempo. The mood should feel unsettled, as though the music is driven by nervous energy. Beethoven used agitato to powerful effect in the first movement of his Moonlight Sonata (marked Adagio sostenuto, but with agitato passages). The marking appears across all genres and periods, and performers must convey the emotional turbulence through touch, timing, and dynamics rather than simply playing faster.
The most famous agitato marking is probably the third movement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata — Presto agitato — which transforms the serene opening into a dramatic storm.
Related Terms
More in Tempo
Browse alla tempo
Return to the original tempo after a deviation.
accelerando
A gradual increase in tempo.
adagio
A slow, leisurely tempo, typically 66-76 BPM.
alla breve
Cut time; two half-note beats per measure, giving a faster feel.
allegretto
A moderately fast tempo, slightly slower than allegro.
allegro
A fast, lively tempo, typically 120-156 BPM.
andante
A walking pace tempo, typically 76-108 BPM.
andantino
Slightly faster than andante, though historically debated.