Tempo, Tempo

Prompted to pay special attention to tempo and pacing, I’ve written a tanka made up entirely of Italian musical tempo terms. (At long last my Cal Arts BFA in Music Performance pays off.)

Tempo, Tempo
By Madeleine Begun Kane

Largo, andante,
Allegro ma non troppo,
Accelerando,
Vivace, rallentando,
Allargando al fine.

(You can find more of my musical verse and humor here.)

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6 Responses to “Tempo, Tempo”

  1. Linda Jacobs says:

    I have no musical background but I like the sound of the words and the way they feel in my mouth!

  2. I just love these tongue rolling words, Caio!

  3. texasblu says:

    My music knowledge is rusty – makes me want to go back and brush up! Had to look up three of the terms – defined, it says

    slow stately manner, then slow,gracefully,easily
    play fast, but not overly so
    faster and faster
    lively, gradual slowing
    slower ending.

    Which, now knowing, makes me appreciate the “tempo” all the more! And in a tanka no less – thank you!

  4. madkane says:

    Thanks Linda, Sweet Talking Guy and Texasblu. And Texasblu, nice translation! It can now be said I peaked in the middle. :)

  5. Although I don’t know the language, I think it rolls of the tongue!

    tears trickle slowly

  6. this is lovely, I love Italian and I think it is so appropriate that such a musical language is the one that has become the official language of musical terms…