scherzo

noun scher·zo \ ˈskert-(ˌ)sō \

Updated on: 8 Apr 2018

Definition of scherzo

plural scherzos or scherzi play \ˈskert-(ˌ)sē\

: a sprightly humorous instrumental musical composition or movement commonly in quick triple time

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Recent Examples of scherzo from the Web

The scherzo was allowed its craziness, San Francisco style.

— mark swed, latimes.com, "MTT takes Mahler to a new level in San Francisco Symphony tour," 28 Mar. 2018
The scherzo bristled with a kind of angular ferocity, at once robust and tender.

— joshua kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, "Copland’s generous patriotism gets boost from SF Symphony," 16 Mar. 2018
Honeck paced the scherzo as moderately as Mahler specified in the score, bringing a truly idiomatic grace to those lilting evocations of Viennese landler and waltz.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Manfred Honeck shows why he remains one of the CSO's most valued guest conductors," 26 Jan. 2018
No matter: All are equally done in by the final scene, a bonkers scherzo in which the quasi naturalism is swept away by what is meant to be the joyful surrealism of children’s theater.

— jesse green, New York Times, "Review: Reimagining ‘Peter Pan’ for the Lipitor Demographic," 13 Sep. 2017
Only twice in 65 minutes — once in the final pages of the scherzo and again near the close of the soloists with chorus — did Kalmar achieve a surpassing level of tension.

— alan g. artner, chicagotribune.com, "Bland Beethoven, searing Brahms close the Grant Park season," 19 Aug. 2017
The scherzo had lithe energy, if less mystery and suspense.

— anthony tommasini, New York Times, "Review: An ‘Ode to Joy’ Troubled by Holocaust Memories," 4 May 2017
Alsop drew gorgeous playing from the strings in the slow movement, vivid work from winds and brass in the scherzo and finale.

— tim smith, baltimoresun.com, "BSO soars in season finale with Marin Alsop, Gil Shaham and a classical tribute to 'The Wire' theme song," 16 June 2017
One of those passages is from the scherzo of Opus 135, 50 bars of an unchanging accompaniment that many point to as an early precursor of minimalist music.

— christian hertzog, sandiegouniontribune.com, "An intriguing new work by John Adams, brilliantly played by the St. Lawrence String Quartet," 6 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scherzo.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of scherzo

Italian, literally, joke, from scherzare

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First Known Use: 1852

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SCHERZO Defined for English Language Learners

scherzo

noun

Definition of scherzo for English Language Learners

: a lively, humorous piece of music that is played quickly

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