a. and sb. Mus. [It., pr. pple. of andare to go.]
A. adj. Of musical movement: Moderately slow and distinct. Also used advb.
1742. Bailey, Andante, chiefly respects the thorough Base, and signifies that in playing, the Time must be kept very just and exact, and each note made very equal and distinct from one to the other.
1784. Europ. Mag., V. 322. Haydn’s celebrated Andante movement.
1868. Geo. Eliot, Sp. Gypsy, I. 63. Not angular jigs … but action curved to soft andante strains.
1880. E. Prout, in Grove, Dict. Mus., I. 65/1. Andante is a quicker rate of movement than larghetto, but on the other hand is slower than allegretto.
B. sb. A movement or piece in andante time.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 351. [He] sells accent, tone … and gives to prayer The adagio and andante it demands.
1845. E. Holmes, Mozart, 30. An Andante in one of them [sonatas] is of especial taste.
