Which tempo marking is described as broad, very slow?

• A. Larghetto
• B. Larghissimo
• C. Staccatissimo
• D. Staccato

Answer: (B)

Tempo markings tell you how fast to play. When a description emphasizes both a broad feel and extreme slowness, the marking that fits best is larghissimo. It comes from largo, meaning broad, but with the -issimo ending it indicates the slowest, most expansive tempo commonly used. So the piece would be played with a very slow, spacious pace. The other terms here relate to speed but to different extents or to articulation: staccatissimo and staccato describe how notes are attacked and detached, not how fast to play, while larghetto and Largo describe slow, broad tempos but not to the extreme slowness implied by larghissimo.