non troppo

\"Not too much\" — a qualifying direction added to a tempo or expression marking in musical scores to moderate its extremity. For example, \"Allegro non troppo\" means fast, but not excessively so; \"forte non troppo\" means loud, but not too loud. In Ligeti's Études, this type of nuance appears frequently as part of longer performance directions. Ligeti's markings are exceptionally detailed and specific — often a compound of several Italian, English, French, and German phrases — and the student performer should read them as genuine, calibrated instructions rather than conventional tempo labels. In contrast to some Romantic composers who use tempo marks loosely, Ligeti's markings encode specific character information that is essential to the right interpretation.

Always read Ligeti's tempo and expression markings in full before beginning to learn a piece. A marking like \"Vivacissimo molto ritmico e preciso\" tells you three separate things: very fast, very rhythmic (not free), and precise (not expressive rubato). Each component is intentional. If you encounter a marking that seems contradictory — e.g. \"Andante con moto, poco rubato\" (somewhat slow and moving, with a little rhythmic freedom) — Ligeti means exactly the tension between those qualities. Do not resolve the tension by choosing one character; hold both.