Allegro vivace

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff as a movement or section heading, or extended with a further word (Allegro vivace e con brio); it governs until the next tempo word.

How Composers Use It

Combines allegro’s speed with vivace’s liveliness — fast, buoyant, sparkling. It is a natural heading for Classical first movements and finales with crisp rhythmic energy, and for scherzos. Since both words already suggest speed, the combination asks above all for lightness at a quick tempo; keep the textures clear enough for the rhythm to sparkle, and add a metronome mark if the exact speed matters.

Example

Mozart, Symphony No. 41 in C major (“Jupiter”), K. 551, first movement, m. 1: “Allegro vivace”, the movement opening f across the orchestra.

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