vivace

American  

[vi-vah-chey, vee-vah-che] / vɪˈvɑ tʃeɪ, viˈvɑ tʃɛ /

adverb

1. (a musical direction) vivacious; lively.

---

vivace British  

/ vɪˈvɑːtʃɪ /

adjective

1. music to be performed in a brisk lively manner

---

Etymology

Origin of vivace

1675–85; < Italian < Latin vīvāc-, stem of vīvāx, long-lived, lively; see vivacity

Explanation

A piece of music with the instruction vivace should be played at a very fast tempo and in a very lively way. It's a pace and style that should get you moving if you're feeling sluggish! Vivace is Italian; it comes from the Latin word vivax, meaning "lively." You may know the English word vivacious, which comes from the same root. A vivacious person is the life of the party, so a vivace piece of music should remind you of someone really energetic, active, and upbeat! The metronome speed for vivace is at least 130 beats per minute, which means more than two beats per second — that's fast! — but not quite as fast as presto in musical terms.

Example Sentences

Although Seddiqui intended to frame a photo of his Seattle latte masterpiece, he claims his final product was so bad that the Vivace folks instead gifted him a cappuccino cup as a memento.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 12, 2022

Before coming to Seattle, Seddiqui connected with David Schomer, co-founder, co-owner and CEO of Espresso Vivace.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 12, 2022

The two other companies, Boeing and Vivace, put in bids but were eliminated early on, leaving the three awarded contracts.

From Washington Times • Apr. 30, 2020

The coffee operation is tiny, a two-group Synesso in the front pulling shots of Seattle’s Espresso Vivace.

From New York Times • Aug. 24, 2011

I felt that Vivace was the only being on earth who really cared for me, and even he was more interested at the time in a rabbit hole he had found than in my society.

From Lady Betty Across the Water by Lowell, Orson