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Dynamics & Expression

Giocoso

Pronounced joh-KOH-soh

Definition

Giocoso means 'playfully' or 'merrily': play with good-humored, bouncy high spirits. It often joins a fast tempo word, as in Allegro giocoso.

Giocoso means "playful" or "merry", from the Italian gioco, a game. It asks for good humor and high spirits: bouncy rhythms, bright tone and a sense of fun. It is usually attached to a quick tempo word, most often in Allegro giocoso.

A four-bar treble-clef melody in C major and 6/8, marked Allegro giocoso and forte. Quarter-and-eighth rhythms alternate with a bar of six staccato eighth notes, C, D, E, F, G, A, and the tune ends with an accented G, an E, a staccato quarter-note C and an eighth rest.
An original four-bar tune in 6/8 marked Allegro giocoso and f: bouncing long-short rhythms, staccatos and an accent, played at ♩. = 100.

Giocoso in real music

Brahms used the word for two of his most exuberant movements: the third movement of his Fourth Symphony is marked Allegro giocoso, and the finale of his Violin Concerto is Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace. Both are boisterous rather than delicate.

Giocoso, scherzando, grazioso

  • Giocoso: merry, hearty, good-humored, often quite loud.
  • Scherzando: joking, witty, built on surprise and lightness.
  • Grazioso: elegant and charming.

All three are light-hearted, but giocoso has the most energy and the least delicacy.

Playing giocoso

  • Bounce. Give long-short rhythms a lilt and keep short notes springy.
  • Bright accents. Lean into the strong beats with good humor, not aggression.
  • Keep it moving. Giocoso music rarely lingers; let phrases tumble into one another.

If the music starts to sound heavy, lighten the arm and shorten the staccatos. Merry is not the same as loud.

Common questions

What does allegro giocoso mean?

Fast and merry: a lively allegro played with good humor and bouncy high spirits.