Adagio

How Composers Use It

Adagio implies a singing, lyrical slowness — slow enough to ornament but with more life than Largo. It is the default marking for expressive slow movements. When writing an Adagio, think of the melody as a vocal line that needs room to breathe.

Example

Barber's Adagio for Strings — the quintessential Adagio, with long arching phrases that build through sustained string writing to a devastating climax.

Related Terms