scherzo

play

noun scher·zo \ ˈskert-(ˌ)sō \

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

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
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
The second of two great septuagenarian pianists passing through New York this week brings with him an all-Chopin program, featuring two sets of nocturnes, a couple of ballades, a scherzo, a berceuse and the third of the composer’s sonatas.

— david allen, New York Times, "Classical Music in NYC This Week," 18 May 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
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
Underpinning the piece is the impatient rhythmic motif from the scherzo of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

— corinna da fonseca-wollheim, New York Times, "Review: John Adams Wrestles the Ghosts of His Musical Fathers," 10 Mar. 2017
While Bruckner did have a certain affection for the flute (its shivering excitement in the trio section of the Ninth’s scherzo is one example), most of his wind melodies are generically windy.

— russell platt, The New Yorker, "Daniel Barenboim and the Music of Anton Bruckner," 3 Feb. 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

play

noun

Definition of scherzo for English Language Learners

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

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