Mahler, happily, did not trade in metronome marks.

Sir Colin answered that he was following the metronome mark.

The composer replied, "My boy, the metronome mark is just a beginning."

But play it a little slower than the metronome mark, and nobody will deny that it is the same piece.

Insisting that there is something essential about following a metronome mark imposes a meaningless limit on performance.

Mr. Herreweghe comes closer than other conductors to the metronome marks, but he does make reasonable compromises.

Sir Roger's Trio shows the value of considering the metronome marks: they can suggest interesting new possibilities.

Beethoven once remarked that metronome marks applied only to the first bars, after which "feeling has its own tempo."

Beethoven himself said that his metronome marks applied only to the first measures; after that, "feeling also has its tempo."

The opening movement is marked Andante, but the metronome mark of 48 suggests adagio, or slower.