scherzo

sport, joke

1 / 1

A young pianist plays a lively, playful passage on a grand piano, her buoyant posture and lightly lifted wrist conveying musical wit rather than solemn performance.

noun

scherzo

SKERT-soh/ˈskertsəʊ/

A lively, playful piece or movement in classical music.

Etymology

scherzoItaliansport, joke

The Italian word for a joke or playful amusement became a musical label for a light, lively movement. Its name points to its playful character rather than a literal joke.

Full entry

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scherzo