A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Moderato

MODERATO. 'In moderate time,' or 'moderately.' This direction is used either singly as a mark of time, or as qualifying some other mark of time, as Allegro moderato, or Andante moderate, when it has the result of lessening the force of the simple direction. Thus Allegro moderato will be slightly slower than Allegro alone, and Andante moderato slightly faster than Andante. Moderato alone is never used by Beethoven, except in the doubtful Pianoforte Sonata in G called no. 37. He uses Molto moderato however in the Sonata for Pianoforte and Violin, op. 30, no. 3, and Moderato e grazioso in the Menuetto of the Pianoforte Sonata in E♭, op. 31, no. 3. Assai moderato is used in the march from the 'Ruins of Athens,' and Moderato cantabile molto espressivo in the beginning of op. 110. Molto moderato is used by Schubert in the Pianoforte Sonata in B♭, no. 10. Instances of Allegro moderato in Beethoven's works will occur to every one. Allegretto moderato is also very common. Vivace moderato occurs in Bagatelle, no. 9, (op. 119). Mendelssohn is very fond of the direction Allegro moderato, using it no less than eight times in the 'Elijah' alone. Schumann very constantly used Moderato alone, translating it into German sometimes by Mässig, and sometimes by Nicht schnell. See the Album, nos. 3, 5, 13, 16, 19, etc.

[ J. A. F. M. ]