How to project emotions through music: Choosing the right tempo
In the previous article of the series How to project emotions through music, we talked about choosing your key. Moving on, today I'd like to discuss tempo.
Alongside the key, setting the tempo is one of the first details to consider when writing or interpreting a song. As I also mentioned regarding the key, this process is similar to choosing a color palette before painting, as it will greatly influence the emotional effect the song has.
How tempo influences our emotions
There are many factors to consider when choosing a tempo, such as the song's genre. A fast tempo might be appropriate for a lively dance tune, whereas a slower tempo may better suit a love ballad. Additionally, the intended emotional impact of the song should also be taken into account. A fast tempo can convey excitement and energy, while a slow tempo can convey sadness or introspection.
One classic song that exemplifies the importance of tempo is After You've Gone. This song about a breakup was composed in 1918 by Turner Layton and Henry Creamer. Its tempo is slow and mournful, which perfectly captures the sorrowful mood of the lyrics. There have been many great covers of this song over the years, but two of my personal favorites are by Nina Simone and Django Reinhardt:
Although it's the same song, Nina's and Django's interpretations evoke different emotions. Nina's version is slow and melancholic, with a focus on the lyrics and her unique voice, crafting a deep sense of sadness and longing. The music is minimalistic, with just a few chords played on the piano, which accentuates the emptiness and loneliness conveyed by the lyrics.
On the other hand, Django's version is upbeat and lively, with a fast tempo and a strong emphasis on the guitar solo. The focus is on the music, with the lyrics serving as a complement to the upbeat and cheerful melody. The guitar solo is the highlight of the song, with Django's virtuosity shining through every note. Despite having the same key and lyrics, these versions are so different because of their tempo, interpretation, instrumentation, and emotional context in which they were performed.
How to identify the tempo of a song
To identify the tempo of a song, count the beats for 15 seconds and then multiply the result by 4 (🤫 you can use an app to help you with this). One app that works well is called "The Metronome." Simply tap your phone's screen to the beat of the song and the app will display the tempo. Alternatively, you can use an online metronome or a website like SongBPM to find the tempo of a specific song.
The BPM (Beats Per Minute) determines the duration of musical figures. For instance, if the BPM is ♩=60, a quarter note lasts one second. Put simply, the tempo establishes the speed of a piece of music.
Emotional components of tempo
Emotions have two main components: arousal and valence. These psychological terms refer to stimulation and attractiveness/aversion, respectively.
The tempo of music affects arousal, which is related to the activation of neurotransmitters responsible for cortical activity and the sense of alertness. However, the tempo alone will not determine if someone likes or dislikes a song. Rather, it induces physical stimulation, which has emotional implications.
Normally the human heartbeat ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute. This is an important fact for composers, as our body is the receptacle for our experiences. These experiences, mediated by the body, are translated into emotions. So don't forget that the way the body works determines how we perceive things. For example, when we describe a song as fast or slow, we are comparing it to our heartbeat.
Below are four different moods and the associated heartbeat rate.
🤯 A song's tempo will be interpreted by our brain, linked to the emotion we associate with a particular heartbeat.
Check this out for yourself! Open one of your scores in your music notation software and try different tempos. Pay attention to how each tempo makes you feel.
To get back to our body, when you are relaxed, your heartbeat is approximately 90 BPM. Therefore, a tempo of BPM=90 can induce relaxation, while BPM=120 is unlikely to.
The tempo can be indicated by a written instruction (see example 1) or simply by stating the BPM (see example 2).
Now let's go back to After You've Gone. Nina's interpretation is approximately ♩=60, a Larghetto. In contrast, Django's is ♩=132, an Allegro. As shown in the list below, my feelings of sadness (when listening to Simone's version) and happiness (when listening to Django's version) align with the tempo chosen by the performers and the emotions associated with that BPM.
Changing the tempo in a song
Changing the tempo is a great way to bring emotional nuances into a song. This can expand the audience's experience and make our work more appealing.
Let's listen to Ella Fitzgerald's interpretation of After You've Gone.
From Adagio, at 1:30, the tempo goes up to Allegro. This change brings an interesting connotation. Ella's interpretation enables a deeper connection between the audience and the story behind the composition. She makes me feel that she really is going through a breakup, which is sad, but also that she is going to be fine because life goes on.
Consciously determining the tempo is crucial when it comes to composing. It not only enhances our expressiveness and precision, but also amplifies the emotional impact and deepens our connection to a song.
In the next articles, we'll explore the concepts of melody and harmony in detail.
See you then!
If you liked this article, check out the other articles in this series: