presto
A very fast tempo, typically 168-200 BPM.
In Depth
Presto indicates a very fast tempo, typically between 168 and 200 BPM. It is the second-fastest standard marking after prestissimo and calls for music that moves with exceptional speed and energy. The word means quick or ready in Italian. Many famous finales are marked presto, providing an exhilarating conclusion to a multi-movement work. Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 ends with a driving presto, and the final movement of his Moonlight Sonata is presto agitato. In opera, presto passages often accompany scenes of chaos, excitement, or comic confusion, as in the ensemble finales of Rossini's operas.
Beethoven's Presto agitato finale of the Moonlight Sonata was so difficult that his student Carl Czerny said it took him months to learn — and Czerny was one of the finest pianists of his era.
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.