Largo Tempo
Allegro
Largo: about 40–59 BPM. The metronome is set to 50 BPM.
Largo means broad and slow. It is one of the slowest common tempo markings, around 40 to 59 BPM.
What Largo means
Largo is Italian for broad or wide. It asks for a slow tempo with a sense of space and dignity, not a dragging one. Handel's Ombra mai fu, often called Handel's Largo, and the second movement of Dvorak's New World Symphony are famous examples.
Practising slow tempos
At 50 BPM there is more than a second between clicks, which makes it easy to rush. Switch on eighths or triplets so the space between beats is filled, then remove them once your pulse is steady.
Questions
How many BPM is Largo?
About 40 to 59 BPM. Many performances sit around 45 to 55 BPM.
Is Largo slower than Adagio?
Yes. Largo is about 40 to 59 BPM; Adagio is about 66 to 75 BPM.
What is the difference between Largo and Lento?
Both are slow. Lento simply means slow; Largo adds a broad, stately character. Their BPM ranges overlap.