Lento

The most matter-of-fact of the slow words

In the Maikstrings tempo tables Lento does not appear. Of the slow words the page Tools names Largo (“broad, very slow”, 40 to 60 bpm) and Adagio (“leisurely, slow”, 66 to 76 bpm). Lento lies in this range. The page Tempo reminds us that such words are elastic and leave room to the performer. If a metronome number is printed in the score, it takes precedence over the word.

Lento in the score

Three sheets from the archive show the marking in three places in a piece: at the beginning in Tárrega and Tchaikovsky, shortly before the end in Carcassi.

Guitar

• Adelita Francisco Tárrega · mazurka for two guitars, arrangement J. J. Olson · 1 page

  “Lento” above the first system, 3/4, one sharp in the key signature, at the beginning Em, p. Later the piece is marked “Fine”.

• Etüde Nr. 6 Matteo Carcassi, op. 60 No. 6 · guitar · 2 pages

  On page 2, shortly before the end, “rall.”, “a tempo.” and “lento.” follow one another, and the last chord has a fermata.

Piano

• Morgengebet Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, op. 39 No. 1 · piano · 1 page

  “Lento.” in bold above the system, 3/4, one sharp, beginning with p.

In Carcassi, Lento appears not at the beginning but as a slowing down before the end, after “rall.” and “a tempo.”. The page A tempo describes this interplay.

Common mistakes

• Equating Lento with Adagio: The words lie close together, the order of the slow tempo words is not fixed uniformly.
• Speeding up too early: In slow pieces there is a tendency to hurry. The metronome uncovers it.
• Ignoring a metronome number: A number beside the word takes precedence.