Tempo, the rhythm or speed with which a piece should be performed, maintaining an adequate tempo was one of the most fundamental requirements that any self-respecting musician must follow and although there is always a minimum degree of flexibility in the interpretation of music, one should always be in control of the tempo within the parameters of one's performance.
Desmond could not be considered a musician, at least he did not think of himself as one and never believed that he was suitable to be one, it did not matter if he had the talent or not, Desmond believed that he did not possess a suitable personality nor did he invest long enough at it to have the nerve to call himself a musician.
Even then, Desmond loved music or perhaps loved his memories of music, whichever the case, when Desmond played he pushed himself as hard as if he were really a musician.
