Meaning & use
con brio
Last updated
Meaning
adverbmusic
in a lively and energetic manner, used as a musical direction.
Grammar: Used after a musical term, e.g. 'Allegro con brio'.
Patterns
- allegro con brio
- play con brio
The symphony's final movement is marked allegro con brio.
The conductor asked the orchestra to play the passage con brio.
She performed the sonata con brio, with great energy.
Common combinations
- allegro con brio
- The first movement is allegro con brio, so it should be fast and lively.
- play con brio
- The pianist was told to play con brio to bring out the excitement.
- con brio section
- The con brio section of the piece requires precise timing.
Synonyms and how they differ
- with spirit
- A plain English equivalent, used in explanations rather than on sheet music.
- energetically
- A general adverb meaning with energy; con brio is specific to music.
Opposites
Commonly confused: con brio or con brio?
con brio vs con brio
Not to be confused with 'con brío' in Spanish, which means with spirit too but is not a music term.
Practice
What does 'con brio' mean in music?
Choose one answer.
'Con brio' is an Italian musical term meaning with spirit or vivacity. The other options describe different musical directions like adagio, senza espressione, or fortissimo.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “con brio”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.