What does con brio mean?

• A. With spirit or vigor.
• B. Slowly and solemnly.
• C. Very loud.
• D. Without expression.

Answer: (A)

Con brio means playing with spirit and vigor. It signals a lively, energetic character, inviting you to inject brightness and forward motion into the music. It’s about how you shape the phrases and drive the tempo with enthusiasm, rather than just how loud you are. The exact dynamic can vary with the piece, but the essential idea is a spirited, buoyant delivery—think of a bright, buoyant energy guiding the performance.

For context, you might see it paired with a tempo marking, like Allegro con brio, which means a fast pace delivered with lively energy. This isn’t simply a directive to play loudly; you can have con brio at different dynamic levels as long as the overall mood remains energetic. Compare that to slowly and solemnly, which is a very different mood; very loud points to a specific high volume, and without expression asks for a plain, unemotional delivery.