Allegro con brio

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff as a movement heading, sometimes extended (Allegro con brio ed appassionato) or placed after a slow introduction; it governs until the next tempo word.

How Composers Use It

Brio is vigour and fire, and the heading is closely associated with Beethoven, who used it for many of his most energetic movements. The brio lies in rhythmic drive and articulation rather than in volume — a movement can begin pianissimo and still be con brio. Use it for music whose energy comes from its rhythm, and still add a metronome mark if the speed matters.

Example

Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 (“Waldstein”), first movement, m. 1: “Allegro con brio”, over an opening marked pp.

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