"At ease"
Adagio
60–76BPM
Slow and stately. Lyrical and expressive — often the emotional heart of a piece.
68BPM
6076
Range: 60–76 BPMCanonical: 68 BPM
About Adagio
Adagio means 'at ease' — it's slow, but with a sense of gentle forward motion that distinguishes it from the more severe largo. It's the most common tempo for slow movements in sonatas and symphonies, and the preferred tempo for lyrical, expressive melodies. At adagio, performers have time to breathe and shape phrases fully. It appears constantly in film music when composers want measured, dignified emotion.
Character
- Gentle forward motion despite slowness
- Ideal for long lyrical melodies
- Breathing and phrasing are everything
- Dignified but not funereal
Famous examples
Beethoven Moonlight Sonata, 1st mvt
Beethoven
Adagio sostenuto
56 BPM
Albinoni Adagio in G minor
Albinoni
Adagio
60 BPM
Barber Adagio for Strings
Barber
Molto adagio
48 BPM
Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez, 2nd
Rodrigo
Adagio
66 BPM
Distinguishing from adjacent tempos
Adagio and andante are frequently confused — andante is a walking pace with clear forward momentum; adagio is slower and more contemplative.
All tempo markings — slowest to fastest