[Kontra]

I'm playing an audition piece that is supposed to be andante sustenuto. I know andante is walking tempo (like, 70 or 80) and sustenuto means sustained, so how much should I slow it down? What tempo should I take it?

 

[artstove]

I'm not totally sure, but I would guess that the sustenuto is a stylistic direction, rather than a tempo. So andante would be the tempo, but played in a more flowing, sustained style. But if you are going to err, I would err on the slower side of andante to emphasize the sustenuto. Maybe try it and record it at a few tempos to see which one works best for you.

 

[Kontra]

Thanks for the reply artstove. After looking more into it and practicing more, I decided 76 would be a good tempo for the piece.

 

[brandenq188]

I know this reply is kind of late lol, Andante you were right rests somewhere around 76bpm. Sostenuto means sustained, and to play the notes greater than their full value. (When I say that I mean to play them to the fullest extent possible. No gaps in between.) It also indicates you to slow the tempo down ever so slightly, and play the section more legato and smooth.