Pieces you may already know at Adagio
The quickest way to feel a tempo is to hum a piece written at it. These carry the marking Adagio in the score, or are almost always played in its range.
- Adagio for Strings — Barber
Perhaps the most famous piece named after its tempo.
- Adagio in G minor — Albinoni / Giazotto
Slow, sustained, and almost always heard well under 70 BPM.
- Piano Sonata No. 14 "Moonlight", 1st movement — Beethoven
Adagio sostenuto — the triplets keep moving while the pulse stays slow.
- Clarinet Concerto K. 622, 2nd movement — Mozart
An Adagio that many students learn first for phrasing.
In today's music: Many R&B and soul ballads sit around 66–76 BPM, which is why they feel "leaned back".
Questions
What BPM is Adagio?
Adagio is usually given as about 76 BPM, with 71 BPM a typical middle value. Editions and traditions differ, so treat the range as a guide.
What does Adagio mean?
At ease, slow. Slow and expressive. A common tempo for second movements of sonatas and concertos.
How do I practise a Adagio passage?
Start near 33–36 BPM so the notes are accurate, then step up by about 5 BPM until you reach the marked tempo.
Tempo ranges are approximate and differ between editions, periods and performers.