A Definition of A Tempo di Menuetto

The Italian musical phrase a tempo di menuetto is an indication to play with the style and “tempo of a minuet”: slow, graceful, and often in 3/4 or 6/8 time. See alla marcia.

Musical Trivia:

The correct Italian would be “minuetto.” The term menuetto likely gained popularity through early German composers who, probably by accident, combined the Italian and German (“Menuett”) words for minuet.

Also Known As:

• a tempo di minuetto (It)
• tempo de minuet (Fr)
• im Menuetttempo (Ger)

Pronunciation:

• ah tem'-poh  de  meen'-oo-ETT-toh

More Italian Musical Commands:

• (mf) mezzo forte
• ritardando
• smorzando
• accelerando
• vivace