prestissimo
Faster than presto
Prestissimo is a musical direction indicating the fastest tempo—faster than presto.
It marks passages meant to be played at extreme speed, often creating urgency or virtuosic intensity: The finale builds to a prestissimo that tests the pianist's limits.
As a noun, it names a passage played at this tempo.
Brisk tempo marking
- vivaceLively musical tempo
- adagioSlow musical tempo
- largoVery slow tempo
- andanteWalking-pace tempo marking
lento · moderato · allegretto · grave · accelerando · ritardando · rallentando · rubato
Supremely accomplished performer
- pianistOne who plays piano
- violinistOne who bows strings
- soloistUnaccompanied performer
- concertmasterPrincipal first violinist
maestro · orchestra · recital · concerto · sonata · etude · cadenza · finale
Very loud, musically
- pianissimoExtremely quiet, in scores
- forteArea of expertise
- pianoKeyed percussion instrument
- mezzoMid-range female singer
crescendo · decrescendo · diminuendo · marcato · accent · articulation · expression · intensity
Wildly agitated, fast
- breathlessLacking air, gasping
- exhilaratingIntensely invigorating or exciting
- furiousExtremely angry
- whirlwindViolently rotating air column
driven · relentless · impetuous · fiery · energetic · turbulent · agitated · urgent
allegro
Brisk tempo marking
andante · lento · moderato · allegretto · grave · accelerando · ritardando · rallentando · rubato · metronome
virtuoso
Supremely accomplished performer
concertmaster · maestro · orchestra · recital · concerto · sonata · etude · cadenza · finale · coda
fortissimo
Very loud, musically
- pianissimoExtremely quiet, in scores
- forteArea of expertise
- pianoKeyed percussion instrument
mezzo · crescendo · decrescendo · diminuendo · marcato · accent · articulation · expression · intensity · attack
frenetic
Wildly agitated, fast
- breathlessLacking air, gasping
- exhilaratingIntensely invigorating or exciting
- furiousExtremely angry
whirlwind · driven · relentless · impetuous · fiery · energetic · turbulent · agitated · urgent · racing