Types of tempo marks
Dorico groups tempo marks into four types according to their function and effect on the music.
The following tempo changes are available in the Tempo panel in Write mode, but you can also input all types of tempo changes using the tempo popover.
- Absolute Tempo Change
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Indicates a defined change in tempo, and is often shown with a metronome mark.
- Gradual Tempo Change
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Indicates a change in tempo over a defined period of time, such as rallentando (slowing down) or accelerando (speeding up).
- Relative Tempo Change
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Indicates a change in tempo that is relative to the previous tempo, such as mosso (movement).
Relative tempo changes often include modifiers that qualify the change, such as poco meno mosso (a little less movement), and are not defined by a metronome mark. You can, however, set a relative metronome mark change as a percentage of the previous metronome mark.
- Reset Tempo
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Returns the tempo to the previous tempo, such as A tempo, or a previously defined tempo, such as Tempo primo (return to the first tempo of the piece).