Which tempo marking is described as Very short and detached?

• A. Largo
• B. Staccissimo
• C. Staccato
• D. Larghissimo

Answer: (C)

Very short and detached describes how a note should be released, which is an articulation instruction rather than a tempo direction. The marking that conveys this level of crisp, extreme separation is staccatissimo, typically shown with a wedge or a special symbol that indicates notes should be shortened to the utmost. Staccato also means detached, but it indicates a shorter, but not as extreme, separation—more restrained than staccatissimo. Largo and Larghissimo, by contrast, specify very slow tempos and tell you how fast to play, not how abruptly to detach notes. So when you see a direction aiming for an intensely brief and separated note, the intended effect is best captured by staccatissimo.