con brio
With spirit and vigour — a performance direction indicating lively energy.
In Depth
Con brio instructs the performer to play with animated, spirited energy. It typically modifies a [tempo marking](/term/tempo%20marking): allegro con brio means fast with spirit, creating a more specific character than allegro alone. The direction affects the performer's attack, rhythmic precision, and overall sense of forward drive. Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 opens with the marking Allegro con brio — and the explosive energy of those famous four notes perfectly embodies what the marking demands. Con brio passages should feel electrifying and purposeful, with a sense of barely contained energy.
Beethoven marked the opening of his Fifth Symphony Allegro con brio — and those two words, combined with four notes, created the most dramatic opening in symphonic history.
Related Terms
More in Tempo
Browse alla tempo
Return to the original tempo after a deviation.
accelerando
A gradual increase in tempo.
adagio
A slow, leisurely tempo, typically 66-76 BPM.
agitato
Agitated; restless and hurried in character.
alla breve
Cut time; two half-note beats per measure, giving a faster feel.
allegretto
A moderately fast tempo, slightly slower than allegro.
allegro
A fast, lively tempo, typically 120-156 BPM.
andante
A walking pace tempo, typically 76-108 BPM.