prestissimo
The fastest [tempo marking](/term/tempo%20marking); extremely fast, over 200 BPM.
In Depth
Prestissimo is the fastest standard [tempo marking](/term/tempo%20marking), indicating speeds above 200 BPM. At this pace, individual notes blur into rapid passages that test the absolute limits of a performer's technique. The marking is rare because few musical passages can be played meaningfully at such extreme speeds. Prestissimo passages tend to be brief — extended playing at this tempo is physically exhausting and risks sacrificing clarity for speed. When it does appear, it typically marks a thrilling conclusion or a passage of virtuosic display. The final pages of many Romantic-era piano works accelerate to prestissimo for a dazzling finish.
The finale of Chopin's Sonata No. 2 (the Funeral March sonata) is marked Presto — but many pianists push it to prestissimo. The entire movement lasts barely over a minute.
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.
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.