Which tempo marking means "Very slow"?

Which tempo marking means "Very slow"?

• A. Andante
• B. Lento/Grave
• C. Adagio
• D. Moderato

Answer: (B)

Tempo markings tell you how fast to play and help set the mood. Lento means slow, and Grave means very slow and solemn. When a score uses a marking that includes both, it signals moving at the slow end of the spectrum, often leaning toward the very slow tempo. Adagio is slow too, but it’s typically a bit faster than Grave, while Andante is more like a walking pace and not as slow. Moderato is a moderate speed, not slow at all. So for the instruction “Very slow,” the marking that best communicates that extreme slowness is the one that uses Grave, with Lento indicating the broader slow range. Practically, you’d play with a weighty, deliberate tempo, aiming for that quiet, solemn feel that Grave brings.

Tempo markings tell you how fast to play and help set the mood. Lento means slow, and Grave means very slow and solemn. When a score uses a marking that includes both, it signals moving at the slow end of the spectrum, often leaning toward the very slow tempo. Adagio is slow too, but it’s typically a bit faster than Grave, while Andante is more like a walking pace and not as slow. Moderato is a moderate speed, not slow at all. So for the instruction “Very slow,” the marking that best communicates that extreme slowness is the one that uses Grave, with Lento indicating the broader slow range. Practically, you’d play with a weighty, deliberate tempo, aiming for that quiet, solemn feel that Grave brings.