scherzo

American  

[skert-soh] / ˈskɛrt soʊ /

noun

Music.

scherzos, plural scherzi plural

1. a movement or passage of light or playful character, especially as the second or third movement of a sonata or a symphony.

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scherzo British  

/ ˈskɛətsəʊ /

noun

1. a brisk lively movement, developed from the minuet, with a contrastive middle section (a trio) See minuet

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Etymology

Origin of scherzo

First recorded in 1850–55; from Italian: literally, “joke,” derivative of scherzare “to joke,” of Langobardic origin (compare German Scherz “a joke, jest”)

Explanation

A scherzo is a very fast section of classical music, often within a larger composition. A scherzo is usually upbeat and sometimes even humorous. The plural form of scherzo is scherzi. Many symphonies and sonatas include scherzi, often in their second or third movements. The scherzo developed from the minuet, another lively musical form which itself came from a French dance. In Italian, scherzo means "joke" or "sport," from the root word scherzare, "to jest or joke," and this describes the lighthearted mood of many scherzi.

Example Sentences

Many conductors treat the third-movement scherzo as an exercise in dance rhythm; here, the energy was certainly propulsive, but Thomas also coaxed out a riot of colors and textures.

From New York Times • Mar. 10, 2023

Lin Ma’s serpentine clarinet was a thrill to hear, and the swooning core of the scherzo held some of the most honeyed horn work of the evening.

From Washington Post • Apr. 1, 2022

There’s the scherzo where rejection to study conducting at her violin alma mater Juilliard spurs creativity in her 20s, and she starts an all-female swing ensemble with string instruments and later her own classical orchestra.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2022

A crackling scherzo was followed by a finale steeped in the piece’s revolutionary spirit, Noseda fanning the flames on either side of the stage into a combustible crescendo.

From Washington Post • Jan. 28, 2022

This movement takes the place of a scherzo.

From The Masters and their Music A series of illustrative programs with biographical, esthetical, and critical annotations by Mathews, W. S. B. (William Smythe Babcock)