Moins lent

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff where the easing begins, often softened to Un peu moins lent, and in force until the next tempo word — Au Mouvt, 1er Mouvt, Cédez. It is relative: the reader must know the slow tempo in force to judge it.

How Composers Use It

A distinctly French way of thinking: moins lent keeps the music in slow territory and merely lightens the drag, where plus vite or plus animé would announce faster music. Debussy and Lili Boulanger reach for it to let a phrase move without breaking its mood. Use Un peu moins lent for the gentlest change, and pair it with a character word when the easing has an emotional cause (moins lent et plus agité).

Example

Debussy, Trois Chansons de Bilitis, “La Chevelure”, voice, m. 3: “Moins lent” two bars after the opening “Assez lent”, with “Très expressif et passionnément concentré” in the same bar, at p.

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