Adagio
Definition. Slow and stately — one of the most common slow tempo markings. Roughly 66–76 BPM.
Detailed Explanation
Adagio is Italian for ‘at ease’ or ‘leisurely’. As a tempo marking it indicates a slow speed, characteristically dignified and unhurried. Conventional metronome charts place adagio at about 66–76 BPM, slower than andante and faster than largo.
Adagio is the tempo of the great slow movements: the Adagio of Beethoven’s Pathétique sonata, the Adagio cantabile of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23, the Adagio for Strings of Samuel Barber. The marking implies space — phrases unfold with patience, harmonic motion can be savoured, melodies can stretch out.
The affect of adagio is typically reflective, sometimes elegiac, sometimes religious. But it is not lifeless; even at slow tempo, the music must breathe and progress. An adagio that feels mortuary has missed the leisurely, easeful character of the marking.
Etymology
Italian, ‘at ease’, from ad (‘at’) + agio (‘ease, leisure’), itself from Old French aise.
In Practice
Sustain through the long notes — they are not rests in disguise. Keep the harmonic motion alive in your inner ear, even when the surface slows. The danger of adagio is collapse, not haste.
Notable Examples
- Beethoven — Sonata Pathétique, Op. 13, second movement (Adagio cantabile)
- Barber — Adagio for Strings (the entire piece)
- Albinoni (Giazotto) — Adagio in G minor (famously slow and sustained)
Related Terms
Opposite Of
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Adagio mean in music?
Slow and stately — one of the most common slow tempo markings. Roughly 66–76 BPM.
Where does the word Adagio come from?
Italian, ‘at ease’, from ad (‘at’) + agio (‘ease, leisure’), itself from Old French aise.
How is Adagio performed in practice?
Sustain through the long notes — they are not rests in disguise. Keep the harmonic motion alive in your inner ear, even when the surface slows. The danger of adagio is collapse, not haste.
What musical terms are related to Adagio?
Related terms include: Adagietto, Largo, Lento, Andante.
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