Vivace: Lively and fast (156–176 BPM)
Vivace means lively and fast, a tempo of roughly 156-176 BPM that asks for sparkling energy as well as speed.
Vivace Metronome: 156 to 176 BPM
Press play to hear Vivace at 166 BPM, or switch to the slow and fast ends of the range.
Loops until you press Stop. Beat 1 is accented so you can feel where the bar starts.
What Vivace Means
Vivace means 'lively' and indicates a tempo faster than allegro with an energetic, spirited character. It suggests not just speed but vivacity, a sparkling, animated quality that brings music to life. Vivace movements often have a sense of joy and exuberance that goes beyond mere quickness.
Etymology
Italian, literally 'vivacious, lively, brisk'
BPM Range
Minimum: 156 BPM
Maximum: 176 BPM
Typical: 166 BPM
Vivace demands both speed and energy. Practice rhythmic precision at slower tempos first, then bring up the speed while maintaining the lively, spirited character the marking requires.
Vivace in Real Music
Vivace turns up most often on scherzos and finales, movements whose whole purpose is momentum. Beethoven marked the second movement of his Symphony No. 9 Molto vivace, a scherzo whose hammering timpani octaves and fugal string writing depend on the tempo staying relentless, and he opened his Symphony No. 7 with a slow introduction that gives way to a Vivace of unbroken dotted rhythm, the movement Wagner described as the apotheosis of the dance. Mendelssohn ended his Violin Concerto in E minor with an Allegro molto vivace whose feather-light passagework only works if the soloist keeps the bow off the string. The marking is more a Classical and Romantic habit than a Baroque one, since Baroque scores rely far more on allegro and presto. What separates vivace from allegro is character rather than number alone: vivace implies vivacity, a bright, animated quality, so the same notes played fast but heavily miss the instruction. Because 156-176 BPM is fast enough that individual beats stop being useful units, players often count in larger groupings, feeling one pulse per bar in triple meter rather than three. Practising underneath the tempo and lifting it in small steps is the standard route, since articulation degrades before the notes do.
Example Pieces
- Symphony No. 9, 2nd movement (Molto vivace), Ludwig van Beethoven
- String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp minor, 3rd movement (Allegro molto vivace), Ludwig van Beethoven
- Violin Concerto in E minor, 3rd movement (Allegro vivacissimo), Felix Mendelssohn
Common Genres
Related Tempo Markings
Frequently Asked Questions
What BPM is vivace?
Vivace is typically 156-176 BPM, faster than allegro but slower than presto. It emphasizes liveliness and spirit in addition to speed.
What is the difference between allegro and vivace?
Vivace is faster than allegro and carries a more specifically lively, spirited character. While allegro means 'cheerful,' vivace means 'vivacious', implying greater energy and animation.
Is vivace faster than presto?
No. Vivace runs 156-176 BPM while presto spans 168-200 BPM, so presto is faster overall, though the two ranges overlap. Vivace emphasises liveliness; presto emphasises sheer speed.
What pieces are marked vivace?
Beethoven marked the second movement of his Symphony No. 9 Molto vivace and the first movement of his Symphony No. 7 Vivace. Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor ends with an Allegro molto vivace.
How fast is vivace on a metronome?
Set a metronome to 156-176 BPM for vivace, around 166 BPM in practice. At that speed many players count one beat per bar rather than every beat, especially in triple meter.
Related References
Practise Vivace at Any Tempo
The full free metronome opens at 166 BPM with tap tempo, ten time signatures, subdivisions, and a visual beat indicator.
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