"Adagissimo", an Italian musical term, translates to "very slowly" or "extremely slow" in English. It is used as a tempo marking in sheet music to indicate that a passage should be performed at an exceptionally slow pace, even slower than the tempo indicated by "adagio". It is usually played at a tempo of 24 to 40 beats per minute.
"Adagissimo" is an intensified version of the tempo marking "adagio", conveying a pace that is even slower and more deliberate. This instruction guides performers to approach the music with an exceptionally slow tempo, allowing for a profound exploration of each note's expressive qualities.
When encountering an "Adagissimo" marking, musicians are required to adopt a tempo that is slower than that of "adagio". This deliberate tempo choice creates an atmosphere of deep contemplation and introspection. The extended duration of each note provides ample time for emotional expression and connection.
Composers utilize "Adagissimo" to emphasize the significance of time and the intricate emotional nuances of the music. This tempo marking is sparingly used and typically reserved for moments of intense emotional expression, reflective passages, or instances of profound beauty within the composition.
Interpreting "Adagissimo" demands careful attention to pacing and expression. Musicians must navigate the slow tempo while maintaining a sense of coherence and continuity, ensuring that each note contributes to the overall emotional narrative of the piece.
Tempo Marking | bpm | Meaning |
Grave | 20 - 40 bpm | Slow and solemn |
Lento | 40 - 60 bpm | Slow |
Largo | 40 - 60 bpm | Slow and broad |
Larghetto | 60 - 66 bpm | Rather broadly |
Adagio | 66 - 76 bpm | Slow and stately |
Adagietto | 70 - 80 bpm | Slightly faster than adagio |
Andante | 72 - 76 bpm | Walking pace |
Andante moderato | 92 - 98 bpm | Moderate walking pace |
Moderato | 108 - 120 bpm | At a moderate tempo |
Allegretto | 112 - 120 bpm | Moderately fast |
Allegro moderato | 116 - 120 bpm | Moderately quick |
Allegro | 120 - 156 bpm | Fast and lively |
Vivace | 156 - 176 bpm | Fast and lively |
Allegro vivace | 172 - 176 bpm | Very fast and lively |
Presto | 168 - 200 bpm | Quickly |
Prestissimo | 200+ bpm | As fast as possible |
Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer, the predominant musical figure during the transition between the Classical to Romantic eras. He occupies an unprecedented dominance in the history of Western music history, and has been widely regarded as the greatest, most influential and most popular musician who ever lived.
Beethoven's music inherited the artistic atmosphere of Haydn and Mozart, penetrated the desire for dignity, vented the anger tortured by fate, and demonstrated his determination to fight with fate.
Compared to other musicians, Beethoven is effectively to interact the philosophy of life with audience through music. Although he was not a romantic, he had become the object followed by other romantics.
As a musician, Beethoven suffered from ear diseases. However, he was unwilling to succumb to fate, vowing to take fate by the throat, and continue to complete his career. In the last ten years of his life, without hearing any sound, his compositions influenced the development of music for nearly two hundred years.