Fuocoso

As Printed on a Score

Printed beside a loud dynamic, often together with a tempo change (Animato; Prestissimo), or intensified as fuocoso assai. It colours the passage until the next character direction.

How Composers Use It

Fuocoso means the same as con fuoco — with fire — and asks for blazing, impetuous energy, brilliant attack and drive. As a one-word adjective it fits neatly beside a tempo word or another adjective. Liszt uses it at virtuoso high points in the B minor Sonata and the Paganini Études. Because fire suggests speed, players tend to push; if you want the energy without acceleration, write in tempo.

Example

Liszt, Grandes Études de Paganini, S. 141, No. 6 in A minor, piano, m. 144: “fuocoso” at f, with “Animato.” at the start of “Var. 8”.

Related Terms