largo

Definition of the Italian term largo in music:

slow (20–70 beats per minute)
movement, section, or piece marked largo
broad, wide

Language

Italian

Singular

largo (m)larga (f)

Plural

larghi (m)larghe (f)

An analysis of 100 recordings of classical works marked largo indicates that largo is typically performed at a tempo between 20 and 70 beats per minute (BPM). The average tempo is 44 BPM.

The diagram below shows the tempo of each recording. The dataset includes works from the 18th to 20th centuries, where available, with no more than three recordings of the same work and no more than six by the same composer.

18th century

19th century

20th century

Italian musical terms that include largo:

andante largo – moderately slow and broad...
largo assai – very slow...
largo con espressione – slow with expression...
largo con gran espressione – slow with great expression...
largo con passione – slow with passion...
largo con sordino – slow with mute...
largo con tristezza – slow with sadness...
largo di molto – very slow...
largo e espressivo – slow and expressive...
largo e maestoso – slow and majestic...
largo e mesto – slow and sad...
largo e pesante – slow and heavy...
largo e pianissimo – slow and very soft...
largo e sostenuto – slow and sustained (in duration)...
largo e spiccato – slow and spiccato (with short and detached notes)...
largo e staccato – slow and staccato (with short and detached notes)...
largo e tranquillo – slow and peaceful...
largo ma non adagio – slow but not adagio...
largo ma non tanto – slow but not too much...
largo ma non troppo – slow but not too much...
largo non tanto – slow but not too much...
largo non troppo – slow but not too much...
largo sostenuto – slow and sustained...
molto largo – very slow
più largo – broader, slower
più largo sempre – always broader, always slower
ritenuto e largo – held back and slow
un poco largo – somewhat very slow

Music scores that include largo:

Ernesto Nazareth: Pássaros em festa (1920) Page 1
Frédéric Chopin: Ballade No. 1 (1835) Page 1
Frédéric Chopin: Fantaisie-impromptu (1834‑1835) Page 3
George Frideric Handel: Water Music Suite No. 1 (1715) Page 1
Giuseppe Verdi: Messa da Requiem (1874‑1875) Page 7
Haydn: The Creation (1796‑1798) Page 1
Hector Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique (1830) Page 1
Pompeo Cannicciari: Missa in A minor (ca. 1700) Page 1
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture (1880) Page 2
Tomaso Antonio Vitali: Chaconne in G minor (ca. 1700) Page 4

Italian musical terms related to largo:

adagietto – rather slowly (40–100 beats per minute), not as sl...
adagio – slowly (35–75 beats per minute)...
adagissimo – extremely slow, slower than adagio...
grave – extremely slow (20–75 beats per minute)...
gravissimo – very serious, very severe...
larghetto – somewhat slow (30–90 beats per minute), not as slo...
larghissimo – extremely slow (20–50 beats per minute), slower th...
lenemente – gently, softly
lentamente – slowly...
lentezza – slowness
lentissimo – very slow, slower than lento...
lento – slow (30–70 beats per minute)...
rallentato – slowed
steso – extended, stretched, slow
strascicato – dragged (played slowly)
tardamente – slowly
tardantemente – slowly
tardo – slow
trascinato – dragged, slowed down

Tempo analysis

Combinations

Musical examples

Related terms