Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adverb & adjective In a quick, lively tempo, usually considered to be faster than allegretto but slower than presto. Used chiefly as a direction.
- noun An allegro passage or movement.
- noun A succession of fast jumps performed as an exercise in ballet.
from The Century Dictionary.
- In music, brisk or rapid.
- noun A brisk movement; a sprightly part or strain, the quickest except presto.
- Special varieties of movement or style are indicated by adding other terms: as, allegro agitato, quick and with agitation; allegro assai, very quick; allegro con brio or con fuoco, quick and with spirit or intensity; allegro con moto or allegro molto, with decided quickness; allegro vivace, quick and with vivacity; allegro giusto, quick, but with steady, even movement; allegro moderato, moderately quick; allegro ma non troppo, quick, but not excessively so.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective (Mus.) Brisk, lively.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun music A
tempo mark directing that a passage is to be played in aquick ,lively tempo , faster thanallegretto but slower thanpresto - noun music In more traditional use, an expressive marking indicating lively or happily, not necessarily quick or fast.
- noun music A passage having this mark
- adverb music played in a quick, lively tempo
- adjective music describing a passage having this mark
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a brisk and lively tempo
- adverb in a quick and lively tempo
- adjective (of tempo) fast
- noun a musical composition or musical passage to be performed quickly in a brisk lively manner
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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In music, the term allegro meant quick, lively, and she was that.
The Owl and Moon Cafe Jo-Ann Mapson 2006
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In music, the term allegro meant quick, lively, and she was that.
The Owl and Moon Cafe Jo-Ann Mapson 2006
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The third part of the class is called allegro, and that consists of fast work, combinations, sequences of steps with the big jumps and turns that make ballet impressive.
Butterfly V.C. Andrews 1998
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The third part of the class is called allegro, and that consists of fast work, combinations, sequences of steps with the big jumps and turns that make ballet impressive.
Butterfly V.C. Andrews 1998
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For example, what can be more irrational than the general term allegro, which only means lively; and how far we often are from comprehending the real time, so that the piece itself contradicts the designation.
Beethoven's Letters 1790-1826, Vol. 1 of 2 Wallace, Lady 1866
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The first four lines are andantino, the refrain allegro.
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So far as I am myself concerned, I have long purposed giving up those inconsistent terms allegro, andante, adagio, and presto; and Maelzel's metronome furnishes us with the best opportunity of doing so.
Beethoven's Letters 1790-1826, Vol. 1 of 2 Wallace, Lady 1866
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The final allegro, made so memorable in Balanchine's ballet of the same name, crackles with wit.
Bizet: Symphony in C, Jeux d'enfants, Roma; Orchestre de Paris/Järvi Nicholas Kenyon 2010
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(Soundbite of song) Unidentified Woman (Singer): (Singing) ... blamed him from wanting an allegro.
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(Soundbite of song) Unidentified Woman (Singer): (Singing) ... blamed him from wanting an allegro.
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