Lento

Q: Da dove viene la parola Lento?

Italian, ‘slow, sluggish’, from Latin *lentus* (‘pliant, slow, sticky’).

/ˈlɛntoʊ/LEN-toh

Tempo MarkingsItalian

Definition. Slow — slower than adagio, but with a less stately character. Roughly 40–60 BPM.

Detailed Explanation

Lento is Italian for ‘slow’. As a tempo marking it indicates a slow speed, generally slightly slower than adagio though the difference is fluid. Conventional metronome charts place lento at about 40–60 BPM.

Lento differs from adagio in character as much as speed. Where adagio implies leisurely ease and dignity, lento is more neutral — it simply means slow. Some composers prefer lento for slow movements that are not particularly lyrical or stately, but rather contemplative, dark, or stark.

The marking is common in 20th-century music, where composers have used it as a more clinical alternative to adagio. Bartók, Stravinsky, and Shostakovich all reach for lento when they want slowness without the Romantic baggage of adagio.

Etymology

Italian, ‘slow, sluggish’, from Latin lentus (‘pliant, slow, sticky’).

In Practice

Use lento for slow music that does not want to sound noble or lyrical. The character is more neutral — slow because the music needs space, not because it has something stately to say.

Notable Examples

Chopin — Various nocturnes (frequent lento markings)
Bartók — Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta (first movement Andante tranquillo, second Lento)

Related Terms

Adagio Largo Lentissimo Grave

Opposite Of

Presto Allegro Vivace

Frequently Asked Questions

Che cosa significa Lento in musica?

Slow — slower than adagio, but with a less stately character. Roughly 40–60 BPM.

Da dove viene la parola Lento?

Italian, ‘slow, sluggish’, from Latin lentus (‘pliant, slow, sticky’).

Come si esegue Lento nella pratica?

Use lento for slow music that does not want to sound noble or lyrical. The character is more neutral — slow because the music needs space, not because it has something stately to say.