It’s no laughing matter …
… but it’s no matter if you laugh.
The word Scherzo is Italian for “I joke” or “I jest”. It’s also a very common title for the second or third movement of a symphony. (a movement is a complete musical piece that serves as a part of a larger musical work – for example, you might say “The Fellowship of the Ring” is the first movement of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.) Typically, a scherzo is in a very fast triple meter, which gives a musical character of lighthearted skipping. Perhaps it’s this jolly, carefree, dance feeling that gives these movements their name. I’ve also heard a theory that the “joke” of the scherzo is that it’s actually a minuet played so quickly that nobody could actually dance it (minuet movements were popular in symphonies before they were ultimately replaced by the scherzo.)
Joke or not, they are fun to listen to, and yes, they definitely make you want to skip around.
Ludwig van Beethoven needs no introduction. This Scherzo is from one of his most-loved symphonies, no. 7.
The 7th is one of my favorites! Hearing it was a coincidence. Awake a few moments ago, I was reading the William Manchester biography of Winston Churchill. Then I went to FAoL to get caught up after an unusual day. There was the Scherzo, from the same symphony whose Allegretto accompanies the climactic royal address to lead England to the war that defeated Hitler.
Also learned something. I’ve always mistakenly thought scherzo meant fast.
Finally a comment on triple meter and skipping. It totally fits, whereas 4/4 or 2/2 totally doesn’t. I’m curious to hear an analysis of why that is so.