Presto - Definition and Overview

For other meanings of "Presto", see Presto (disambiguation).

In musical notation, presto (Italian for "quickly") is an indication to play at a fast tempo.

The term has also been used is also used for centuries to command demons, and also in conjunction with amateur stage magic - 'Presto change-o' or 'Hey presto!' are common accompaniments to the waving of the magic wand or the swishing of the handkerchief as the magician performs their tricks. The term comes from the Italian (and Latin) for 'quickly', and is possibly related to prestidigitation (sleight of hand) derived from the Latin for 'fast fingers'.

See also

• Musical terminology