Con grazia

As Printed on a Score

Printed alone beside a dynamic, combined with dolce (dolce, con grazia), or attached to a tempo word in a heading — Allegretto con grazia, Andantino con grazia. It holds for the passage or movement and gives way to the next character direction.

Also spelled: grazia

How Composers Use It

Con grazia asks for elegance and lightness: gently lifted phrase ends, unforced accents, a dance-like ease. It means the same as grazioso; the choice usually depends on how the words read after a tempo word. Tchaikovsky’s Allegro con grazia, in 5/4, shows that grace survives an unusual metre, and Brahms can head a whole song with Con grazia alone. Avoid it where the music needs weight; grace and pesante pull against each other.

Example

Brahms, 7 Lieder, Op. 48, No. 1, “Der Gang zum Liebchen”: the song is headed simply “Con grazia”.

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