What term describes the speed of a piece of music?

The term that describes the speed of a piece of music is tempo. Tempo refers specifically to the pace at which a piece is performed, typically indicated at the beginning of a score with terms such as "allegro" (fast), "adagio" (slow), or with a metronome marking that provides a precise beats-per-minute (BPM) measurement. Understanding tempo is crucial for musicians, as it sets the overall mood and energy of a performance.

Dynamics, on the other hand, refer to the volume of the music, indicating how loud or soft sections should be played. Texture describes how the different musical lines and layers interact within a piece, focusing on the arrangement of melodies and harmonies. Rhythm relates to the timing of notes and the patterns they create, but does not directly indicate the overall speed of the piece. Thus, tempo is the correct term for denoting the speed at which music is performed.