Slow movement (music)

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A slow movement is a form in a multi-movement musical piece. Generally, the second movement of a piece will be written as a slow movement, although composers occasionally write other movements as a slow movement as well. The tempo of a slow movement can vary from largo to andante, though occasionally allegretto slow movements can be found, especially in works by Beethoven. It is usually in the dominant, subdominant, parallel, or relative key of the musical work's main key, but also in any variation or combination of them; the subdominant of the relative major is common in Classical-era minor-key sonatas.