Vivace Metronome
165
BPM
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Vivace is an Italian tempo marking meaning "lively," "vivacious," or "full of life." It indicates a tempo of 160-170 BPM, faster than Allegro but with a character that emphasizes brilliance and sparkle rather than mere speed. The word shares its root with the English "vivacious" and the Italian vivere ("to live"), and Vivace music should sound genuinely alive, crackling with energy and excitement. In the tempo hierarchy, Vivace sits between Allegro and Presto, occupying a sweet spot where music is fast enough to thrill but not so fast that it loses musical coherence. Some conductors and scholars consider Vivace a character modifier rather than a strict tempo, arguing that what matters is the quality of liveliness rather than a specific BPM number.
Vivace movements are the showstoppers of the classical repertoire. The final movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 bursts from the famous C minor-to-C major transition into a Vivace of triumphant joy, one of the most thrilling moments in all of music. Haydn's symphonic finales frequently feature Vivace markings, with movements like the finale of the "London" Symphony (No. 104) combining speed with the composer's characteristic wit and surprise. In violin literature, the Vivace finales of Mozart's violin concertos demand sparkling technical clarity and a sense of effortless flight. Mendelssohn's Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream is a orchestral tour de force at Vivace tempo, with its gossamer string textures evoking fairy dances. Verdi's opera overtures often build to Vivace codas that send audiences into the drama with heightened anticipation.
Vivace at 160-170 BPM requires a "less is more" approach to physical technique. At this speed, large movements cannot keep up with the tempo. Fingers must stay close to the keys or strings, bow strokes must be compact, and breath intake must be quick and efficient. Practice "whisper technique" at slower speeds: play as lightly and with as little motion as possible, then maintain that economy of movement as you speed up. At Vivace tempo, harmonic awareness becomes a crucial navigation tool. When individual notes fly by too quickly to hear separately, your ear locks onto the harmonic progressions underneath. Practice identifying the chord changes in your Vivace passages and use that harmonic roadmap to guide you through fast runs. Finally, practice performing your Vivace passages for others, even in informal settings: fast playing at home alone feels different from fast playing under the mild pressure of an audience.
Vivace means "lively" or "vivacious" in Italian. It indicates a tempo of 160-170 BPM, faster than Allegro, with a character emphasizing brilliance, sparkle, and energetic vitality.
Vivace (160-170 BPM) is notably faster than Allegro (130-150 BPM). Vivace has a lighter, more brilliant quality, while Allegro emphasizes driving energy. The gap between them (150-160 BPM) is sometimes filled by "Allegro vivace."
Vivace (160-170 BPM) is slightly slower than Presto (180-200 BPM). Vivace emphasizes liveliness and brilliance, while Presto simply means "fast" and pushes toward the extremes of human technical ability.
Vivace is pronounced "vee-VAH-cheh" in Italian, with the stress on the second syllable. The 'c' before 'e' makes a "ch" sound in Italian (like "church"). English speakers often incorrectly say "vih-VAH-see" or "vy-VASE."
Famous Vivace works include the finale of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, Haydn's London Symphony finale, Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream Scherzo, and many Mozart violin concerto finales. Verdi's opera overtures also frequently build to Vivace codas.