Scherzo
A joke; a lively, often humorous movement.
Category
form
Pronunciation
SKER-tsoh
Origin
Italian
Length
89 words · 1 min read
About Scherzo
Scherzo (literally "joke") is a vigorous movement in triple time that replaced the minuet from Beethoven onward. Despite its name, scherzos are often intense and dramatic.
More form terms
Aria
View all formterms →A self-contained piece for solo voice with instrumental accompaniment, typically within an opera or oratorio
RecitativoA vocal style imitating natural speech rhythms.
VoltaTurn; used in repeat structures (prima volta, seconda volta).
CadenzaA virtuosic solo passage, often improvised, near the end of a movement.
CodaA concluding passage that brings a piece or movement to an end.
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