con moto

tempokohn MOH-tohfrom Italian

With motion; indicating a sense of forward movement.‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌

In Depth

Con moto means with motion and is typically added to another [tempo marking](/term/tempo%20marking) to indicate that the pace should feel flowing and forward-moving rather than static.‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‌‌‌‌ For example, andante con moto means a walking pace with a sense of direction. The marking prevents performers from letting a moderate or slow tempo drag. Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 opens with Allegro con brio, while his later works often use con moto to ensure that slower passages maintain momentum. It is a character instruction as much as a tempo one — the music should never feel stagnant.

Did you know?

Beethoven used con moto so frequently in his later works that it became almost a signature marking — he seemed perpetually concerned that performers would let the music stagnate.