What does andante mean?

What does andante mean?

• A. A fast tempo
• B. A very loud tempo
• C. A walking tempo
• D. A slow tempo

Answer: (C)

Tempo markings tell you how fast to move the music. Andante indicates a walking pace—moderate, not fast and not very slow. It sits between the slower adagio and the quicker moderato, giving a comfortable, strolling speed. The term is Italian, reflecting the idea of going along at a pace like a person walking. So the walking tempo best captures what andante means. It isn’t about volume (that would be a dynamic marking) or an extreme speed, and it isn’t a fast tempo.

Tempo markings tell you how fast to move the music. Andante indicates a walking pace—moderate, not fast and not very slow. It sits between the slower adagio and the quicker moderato, giving a comfortable, strolling speed. The term is Italian, reflecting the idea of going along at a pace like a person walking.

So the walking tempo best captures what andante means. It isn’t about volume (that would be a dynamic marking) or an extreme speed, and it isn’t a fast tempo.