Metronome - 80 BPM

A metronome is a device that produces regular ticks (beats). It is used by some performing musicians for practice in maintaining a consistent tempo; it gives composers an approximate way of specifying the tempo. The mechanical metronome was invented by Dietrich Nikolaus Winkel in Amsterdam in 1812. Johann Mälzel copied several of Winkel's construction ideas and received the patent for the portable metronome in 1816. Ludwig van Beethoven was the first notable composer to indicate specific metronome markings in his music, in 1817. Many notable composers, including Felix Mendelssohn, Richard Wagner, Giuseppe Verdi and Johannes Brahms, have criticised the use of the metronome. This sound uses the following sound file from Freesound (http://www.freesound.org): Wittner 80 BPM.mp3 by digifishmusic