An Online Guide to
Classical Music and Composers

 Allegro

 ALLEGRO (an Italian word, meaning “cheerful,” as in Milton’s poem), a term in music to indicate quick or lively time, coming between andante and presto; it is frequently modified by the addition of qualifying words.  It is also used of a separate piece of music, or of a movement in a sonata, symphony, etc.

And here's another brief (but famous) example from Beethoven, that one might easily call quick, perhaps even lively, but hardly "cheerful:"

For a greater discussion, see Krehbiel's Recognition of Musical Elements.

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