allegro
n. countablen. a fast and lively tempo in music. It is the speed at which a piece should be played to sound energetic.
n. a musical direction indicating a fast, lively, and bright tempo. Often used to describe a specific movement within a larger composition.
The pianist played the allegro with great energy.
After the slow introduction, the second movement is an allegro that keeps the audience on their feet.
The composer's use of an allegro in the final movement provides a striking contrast to the somber, reflective themes established in the earlier sections of the symphony.
From Italian allegro.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 30, 2026