Adagietto
Definition. A diminutive of adagio — slightly faster, lyrical and intimate in character.
Detailed Explanation
Adagietto is the diminutive of adagio, indicating a tempo slightly faster than adagio — that is, a relatively slow tempo, but moving with a touch more flow. Conventional metronome charts place it around 70–80 BPM.
The marking is best known from the Adagietto of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony, one of the most famous slow movements in the orchestral literature. The character there — intimate, lyrical, sustained — captures the spirit of adagietto: a slow tempo, but with a singing line that never settles into stasis.
Adagietto can also indicate ‘a brief adagio’ — a movement that has the character of an adagio but is short in duration, perhaps an entr’acte or interlude. This usage is less common but appears in Mahler and his contemporaries.
Etymology
Italian, diminutive of adagio. The -etto suffix makes the adjective ‘a little adagio’.
In Practice
Sing through the line. Adagietto rewards a continuous melodic shape — phrasing as if the whole movement were one long, breathing arch.
Notable Examples
- Mahler — Symphony No. 5, fourth movement (the iconic Adagietto)
- Bizet — L'Arlésienne Suite No. 1 (Adagietto for strings)
Related Terms
Opposite Of
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Adagietto mean in music?
A diminutive of adagio — slightly faster, lyrical and intimate in character.
Where does the word Adagietto come from?
Italian, diminutive of adagio. The -etto suffix makes the adjective ‘a little adagio’.
How is Adagietto performed in practice?
Sing through the line. Adagietto rewards a continuous melodic shape — phrasing as if the whole movement were one long, breathing arch.
What musical terms are related to Adagietto?
Related terms include: Adagio, Andante, Andantino, Lento.
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