tranquillo
Tranquil; calm and peaceful.
In Depth
Tranquillo means tranquil, calm, and peaceful. It instructs the performer to play with a serene, unhurried quality, creating an atmosphere of stillness and repose. The marking affects character more than specific tempo — a tranquillo passage simply needs to feel peaceful. Tranquillo often appears after a turbulent or intense passage, providing emotional relief and contrast. A section marked piu tranquillo (more tranquil) might follow an agitato passage, signalling a shift from turmoil to calm. The marking appears in Romantic and Impressionist music particularly, where emotional contrasts within a single movement are valued.
Debussy's La Mer contains some of the most beautiful tranquillo passages in orchestral music — moments of calm between storms that feel like the sun breaking through clouds over the ocean.
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.