alla breve
Cut time; two half-note beats per measure, giving a faster feel.
In Depth
Alla breve, also known as cut time, uses a time signature of 2/2 instead of 4/4. Each measure has two beats rather than four, with the half note getting one beat. This gives the music a broader, more flowing feel even when the notation looks dense. The symbol for alla breve is a C with a vertical line through it. Marches, fast waltzes, and many Baroque movements use cut time. For performers, thinking in two rather than four helps maintain forward momentum and prevents the music from feeling heavy or plodding.
The cut time symbol (₵) is one of the oldest surviving musical symbols, dating back to medieval notation where it indicated a faster tempo for church services.
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.
agitato
Agitated; restless and hurried in character.
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.