![]() The numbers on the metronome scale are beats per minute (B.P.M.or MM means Maelzel's Metronome, not metronome mark. Even his former friend Beethoven filed legal action against him in the Vienna courts. ![]() He was a very shady character frequently pursued by the law. However, credit usually is given to the unscrupulous Johann Nepomuk Maelzel who stole many of Winkel's ideas and proceeded to perfect and patent the device as his own. Credit for invention of the metronome in all fairness should go to Diederich Nikolaus Winkel.I'm certain those in your presence will admire your perspicacity and will be grateful for your willingness to enlighten all around you with your knowledge. You might think, "Wow, I always wanted to know what the proper metronome speed is for a German Allemande from the 1730's and here it is!" Well, if you read on a few pages, Sachs proceeds toĮxplain why the table you were drooling over in your hallelujah moment is in error, and that the table that follows three pages later is the one to use, but with reservations.Īt dinner tonight with your family or close friend, be sure to share this little revelation about metronome numbers and tempo markings. But be very careful-if you are thumbing through the book, you will come across a table of tempi of baroque dances for example. If you want to do further study on educated guesses as to the "correct" speed of various tempo markings and dances, I highly recommend German musicologist Curt Sach's Rhythm and Tempo which is one of my all time favorite books. Don't be a mind-numbed robot to a numeric table of tempo markings. But let the music, your instrument, the performance environment, and your instincts tell you what the tempo should be. Word should not be associated with that word in any way.Ĭertainly, as a matter of curiosity, if you are learning a piece marked Allegro, you can check the numeric range the metronome specifies for Allegro. ![]() The numbers that are underneath, beside, above, or bracketed with a particular tempo In other words, Adagio is slower than Andante. The words ARE placed correctly in terms of relative relationship. Some musicologists and metronome manufacturers believe the numbers are correct about 75% of the time.īut one big problem (among many others which I won't go into here) is that the meanings of the words differ in music from different historical periods and even from composer to composer within a given period. But no professional musician sanctions them-then or now. The unscrupulous Johann Maelzel (see below) did assign numerical values to the common tempo terms. There is no real musical correlation between the words and the numbers. THOSE WORDS HAVE LITTLE TO DO WITH THE NUMBERS WITH WHICH THEY ARE PLACED ON THE DIAL. You know those words that are printed around the dial on most metronomes? (On old pendulum-style metronomes the words are printed up and down the scale.) Yes, I am referring to the tempo markings (from slowest to fastest): Largo, Larghetto, Adagio, Andante, Moderato, Allegro, Presto, Prestissimo. When I wear my hat as an educator, I do my best to see to it that my students are accurately informed and that they analyze "facts" carefully.Ī common misconception many musicians have involves our friend the metronome. ![]() Indeed, we are bombarded every day with information from the media, much of which is simply not true. Sometimes we accept things at face value without examining them carefully. ![]() This article may be reprinted, but please be considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt. ![]()
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