vivace

Other forms: vivaces

A piece of music with the instruction vivace should be played at a very fast tempo and in a very lively way. It's a pace and style that should get you moving if you're feeling sluggish!

Vivace is Italian; it comes from the Latin word vivax, meaning "lively." You may know the English word vivacious, which comes from the same root. A vivacious person is the life of the party, so a vivace piece of music should remind you of someone really energetic, active, and upbeat! The metronome speed for vivace is at least 130 beats per minute, which means more than two beats per second — that's fast! — but not quite as fast as presto in musical terms.

Definitions of vivace

1. adverb

   lively, in music
   “play this section vivace!”
2. adjective

   (of tempo) very fast and lively
   synonyms:

   fast

   at a rapid tempo