Allegro scherzando

As Printed on a Score

A heading printed above the first system, at the start of a short character piece, song or movement, and in force until the next tempo word. When scherzando appears alone later in the piece, it renews the joking manner within the current tempo.

How Composers Use It

Scherzando asks for a light, teasing touch: short notes, crisp staccato, quick changes of dynamic and surprise accents. Choose it over Allegro giocoso when the humour is delicate rather than hearty, and over Allegro vivace when character matters more than raw speed. It works best when the texture is thin enough for the wit to come through; a full tutti marked scherzando rarely sounds like a joke.

Example

Bizet, Feuilles d’album, “Le grillon” (“The cricket”), voice, m. 1: “Allegro scherzando.”

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