What does adagio mean?

What does adagio mean?

• A. Slow
• B. Moderate
• C. Very fast
• D. Fast

Answer: (A)

Adagio means a slow, relaxed tempo in music, played with ease and lyrical expression. The term comes from Italian, literally suggesting a leisurely pace. In practice it is slower than Andante but not as slow as Largo, giving a gentle, expansive feel that suits long, singing phrases. While exact BPM can vary, the idea is to approach the music with a calm, expressive delivery rather than speed. You’ll often see adagio used with additional character markings like cantabile (singing) to emphasize the musical line at this slow tempo.

Adagio means a slow, relaxed tempo in music, played with ease and lyrical expression. The term comes from Italian, literally suggesting a leisurely pace. In practice it is slower than Andante but not as slow as Largo, giving a gentle, expansive feel that suits long, singing phrases. While exact BPM can vary, the idea is to approach the music with a calm, expressive delivery rather than speed. You’ll often see adagio used with additional character markings like cantabile (singing) to emphasize the musical line at this slow tempo.