FVA All State Choir Vocabulary Practice Test

Tempo markings tell you how fast to play and how to shape the feel. The phrase that means fast tempo with spirit combines speed and energy: Allegro con spirito. Allegro signals a brisk, lively pace, and con spirito adds a spirited, energetic character, so together they request a quick, bold, and lively performance. Looking at the others helps clarify why this fits best. Amabile describes a sweet, gentle character rather than a tempo, so it doesn’t specify speed. Andante indicates a walking pace—slower and more relaxed. Allegretto is moderately fast, faster than Andante but not as brisk or as energized as Allegro con spirito, which includes the extra directive of spirited delivery. So the term that captures both a fast tempo and a spirited, energetic feel is Allegro con spirito.