Italian musical term
Pressando in Music
Pressando tells the performer to press forward with growing urgency. It usually suggests a more driven flow and may include a gradual increase in tempo, intensity, or both, depending on context.
Pressando meaning
The literal idea is “pressing” or “hurrying.” In performance, the phrase gains momentum. A composer may place the word over several notes or measures so the change unfolds gradually.
Because pressando is expressive, the surrounding dynamics, articulation, harmony, and arrival point matter. A tense dominant passage may need both speed and intensity; a lighter texture may need only a subtle forward pull.
How to perform pressando
- Identify the exact span covered by the marking.
- Choose a stable starting pulse.
- Locate the musical destination—often a cadence, climax, or new tempo.
- Increase motion evenly while keeping subdivisions clear.
- Arrive together with the ensemble instead of rushing independently.
Pressando vs. accelerando, stringendo, and stretto
| Term | Main idea | Typical interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Pressando | Pressing forward | Increasing urgency, often with some acceleration. |
| Accelerando | Getting faster | A direct gradual increase in tempo. |
| Stringendo | Tightening / pressing | Growing speed and intensity toward a goal. |
| Stretto | Compressed / close | Can indicate faster, more urgent motion; in fugue, overlapping entries. |
Practice a controlled pressando
Use the online metronome to define a start and finish. For example, rehearse an eight-measure phrase from 96 to 112 BPM. Practice each two-measure checkpoint, then remove the clicks between checkpoints and preserve the smooth curve.
In ensemble rehearsal, agree on the destination beat and the leader’s gesture. A shared target produces energy without the uneven rushing that happens when every player accelerates by a different amount.
Frequently asked questions
What does pressando mean in music?
Pressando means pressing or hurrying forward. The musical line should feel increasingly urgent rather than mechanically unchanged.
Is pressando the same as accelerando?
They overlap, but pressando can imply both forward tempo and expressive pressure. Accelerando more specifically directs a gradual increase in speed.
How fast should pressando become?
The score does not define one final BPM unless another marking provides it. Use the phrase length, destination, and ensemble context to decide the amount of acceleration.
How do you rehearse a pressando passage?
Mark a starting tempo and a destination tempo, divide the phrase into checkpoints, and make the increase continuous rather than saving it for the last measure.