A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Con Brio

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A Dictionary of Music and Musicians
edited by George Grove

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From volume 1 of the work.

1503866A Dictionary of Music and Musicians — Con BrioGeorge GroveGeorge Grove

CON BRIO, 'with life and fire.' Allegro con brio was a favourite tempo with Beethoven; hardly one of his earlier works but has an example or two of it, and it is found in the overture op. 124, and in the last piano sonata. The most notable instances are the first movements of the Eroica and the C minor, and the Finale of the No. 7 symphonies. Mendelssohn, on the other hand, rarely if ever employs it. His favourite quick tempo is Allegro molto or di molto.

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