Which term marks a tempo change that gradually slows and broadens?

• A. Alla
• B. Allargando
• C. Concerto
• D. Andantino

Answer: (B)

Allargando marks a tempo change that gradually slows and broadens. The term comes from Italian allargare, meaning to widen, so it tells you to ease the pulse and expand the music’s feel—phrases stretch, notes become more spacious, and the overall character grows grander. This combination of slowing and widening is what gives the passage a deliberate, expansive finish. Other terms don’t fit this idea: Alla is a stylistic descriptor rather than a tempo change; Andantino designates a tempo—slightly faster than Andante, or at a comfortable walking pace—not a broadening or gradual slow-down; Concerto refers to a form, not a tempo instruction.