moderato
A moderate tempo, typically 108-120 BPM.
In Depth
Moderato indicates a moderate tempo, typically between 108 and 120 BPM. It sits comfortably between the walking pace of andante and the lively energy of allegro. The marking suggests a balanced, steady pace — neither rushing nor lingering.
Moderato can stand alone as a tempo marking or modify another term: allegro moderato means fast but not too fast, while andante moderato means a walking pace that leans slightly quicker. The tempo works well for music that needs to be clearly articulated without the urgency of faster tempos, and it is common in educational music and hymns.
Moderato is sometimes called the most boring tempo marking — which is unfair. Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata slow movement is marked Adagio cantabile, not moderato, precisely because he wanted something more specific.