Meaning & use
brioso
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Meaning
adjectivenot comparablemusictechnical
Played in a lively, spirited, energetic way.
Grammar: Used as a performance direction after a tempo word; not compared.
Patterns
- allegro brioso
- brioso passage
The finale is marked brioso, so keep the tempo bouncing.
Her brioso reading of the scherzo made the audience smile.
The conductor asked for a brioso feel in the closing bars.
Common combinations
- allegro brioso
- The movement is marked allegro brioso.
- brioso passage
- The brioso passage needs crisp articulation.
- play something brioso
- They played the coda brioso, with plenty of energy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- spirited
- A general English word for lively playing; brioso is the Italian term printed on the score.
- vivace
- Another Italian direction meaning lively and fast; brioso stresses energy more than speed.
Opposites
Commonly confused: brioso or brillante?
brioso vs brillante
Also a lively Italian direction, but it suggests a bright, sparkling tone rather than sheer energy.
Practice
The score says 'Allegro brioso'. How should the music be played?
Choose one answer.
Brioso means lively and spirited, so option 1 fits. 'Slowly and sadly' would be marked something like mesto or lento, not brioso.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “brioso”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.