What does vivace mean?
Vivace is an Italian loanword used chiefly as a musical direction meaning “fast and lively.” It tells performers to play with brisk energy as well as speed, and it can also label a movement or passage in that character. The word is especially familiar from tempo markings such as “Allegro vivace,” where allegro supplies a quick tempo and vivace adds vitality and animation. Outside musical contexts, vivace is relatively formal and literary: it can characterize an action, performance, or manner as lively and spirited, though it is less common than the general terms lively, brisk, and energetic. Because the word comes directly from Italian and has been used in English musical terminology since the early seventeenth century, it retains the atmosphere of a performer's instruction. Vivace is therefore especially useful to readers of music, but it also lends a vivid, cosmopolitan flavour when used figuratively.
Lively and fast, especially of a musical passage, movement, or performance.
"The final movement is vivace and exceptionally energetic."
As an adjective, vivace is normally used in a musical context and may appear predicatively or as a label for a movement.
Used as a musical direction to indicate a fast, lively style of performance.
"The pianist ended the rondo vivace."
In musical directions, the word conveys both speed and expressive animation.
Allegro vivace asks performers to bring both speed and sparkle: fast, but never lifeless.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does vivace come from?
Vivace was borrowed from Italian, where it means “lively” or “vivacious.” The Italian word derives from Latin vīvax, meaning “alive” or “lively,” which is related to vīvere, “to live.” English has used the musical term since the early seventeenth century, and related English words include vivacious, vivacity, and vivarium.
How vivace is actually used
The word is most common in musical terminology, where it indicates both tempo and character. Outside music, it is relatively formal and literary; vivace may imply conspicuous speed, energy, and animation.
Easily confused with vivace
Vivacious means lively or animated in a general sense, whereas vivace is primarily a musical direction indicating both speed and vitality.