Adagio

Adagio (It.), a slow or very slow movement or measure of time in Music. In the more extended compositions of orchestral or chamber music, the second or third movement is generally marked adagio, and serves as a contrast to the rapid and energetic movement of the preceding and following parts of the sonata or symphony. The distinctive feature of the adagio being its power of expression, it affords the most direct means to the composer of manifesting his individuality of feeling. The finest specimens of the adagio are found in the works of the old masters, above all in Beethoven. In recent works, our composers have generally succeeded better in their rapid movements than in the adagio (see SYMPHONY).