What is PRESTO?

INTRODUCE presto

Tempo is the word we use to describe the speed of music. Every speed, fast, and slow, and in between, has its own word, or tempo marking. Today we will talk about very, very fast music. When musicians see ‘presto’ on their music, they know they will need to play extremely fast.

Here are five things moving fast. Can you name them all? Can you think of more things that move super fast? Can you imagine music going along with each of these images? How fast would it sound?

LISTEN to examples of presto

Now we will listen to five pieces of music, all of which are marked “presto.” As you listen, maybe you want to draw fast-moving pictures, or see if you can move to the speed or tempo of the music.

1. First is Presto, from “Summer,” part of Antonio Vivaldi's famous composition called The Four Seasons.

2. Next is the third movement of J.S. Bach's Italian Concerto, marked “Presto.” In this video, we don't see the performer's fingers. Can you imagine how fast they are moving?

3. Here is the third movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's 7th Symphony. The tempo is marked presto. Does it sound as fast as the other two pieces? Sometimes composers have slightly different ideas about exactly how fast presto should be.

4. Here is “Dance of the Comedians” from Bedřich Smetana's opera The Bartered Bride. Can you imagine dancing this fast? Try it while you listen.

5. Finally, listen to Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee, played on the flute. Do flute player's fingers move as fast as a flying bumblebee?