Scherzo: I need some words of advice.

Hey,

I've written a short little playful, joking piece to submit to possibly get chosen for a flute concert at my school and I want to call it something simple like "Scherzo for Flute and Piano," okay? However, I don't know diddly about what that name implies, besides the basic literal definition:

Scherzo: A piece of lively, humorous character.

By naming my piece a scherzo, does that imply anything structurally? I know little about structure definitions and I did not intentionally apply any kind of structure to the piece when writing it, so I'm not sure I would be making a fool of myself by presenting the piece as a scherzo and then having people tell me snidely, "well, this isn't a scherzo, you know..."

So I was wondering whether you guys have any advice for me on the matter.

Thank you! :)

Long winded.

A scherzo (plural scherzi) is a name given to a piece of music or a movement from a larger piece such as a symphony. The word means "joke" in Italian. Sometimes the word scherzando is used in musical notation to indicate that a passage should be played in a playful manner.

The scherzo developed from the minuet' date=' and gradually came to replace it as the third (or sometimes second) movement in symphonies, string quartets, sonatas and similar works. It traditionally retains the 3/4 time signature and ternary form of the minuet, but is considerably quicker. It is often, but not always, of a light-hearted nature. A few examples of scherzi exist which are not in the normal 3/4 time, such as in Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 18. The scherzo itself is a rounded binary form (a first theme is established, sometimes modulates to a related key such as the dominant or the relative major/minor, a second theme follows in the new key, and the piece is closed by a thematic return to the first theme); but, like the minuet, is usually played with the accompanying Trio followed by a repeat of the Scherzo, creating the ABA or ternary form. This is sometimes done twice or more (ABABA). The "B" theme is a trio, a lighter passage for fewer instruments. It is not necessarily for only three instruments, as the name implies, except in early Baroque music.[/quote']

I actually read that, but I was wondering whether that is a rule or just one definition. You know, kinda like the word "sonata" vs. "sonata form"?

If you piece fits the definition stylisticly, go for it.

Thanks, J. If anyone else has anything else to say on the matter, go ahead. I tend to freak out about these things. :)

"a scherzo" is a particular form.

(I find the wikipedia definition a little awkward)

generally speaking:

[A - B - A - B] - [trio section c - d - c] - [A - B] - [coda optional]

maybe you might want to expand your flute piece to make it conform more to a scherzo form?

I honestly don't think too man people are going to notice that structurally you aren't following to the letter the scherzo structure, so whatever you feel like naming it is fine.

however, how about "badinerie"? in French it implies the character of a scherzo.

I like that, actually! :) ...erm, how do you pronounce that? :( Is Badinage an english word for that?

My piece is in 3/4 time - the wiki stub for badinerie says that it's traditionally in 2/4 time. I hate the word "traditionally," lol...it always makes me question things even though I know it doesn't mean hard-and-fast rule. I'll consider your idea.

I like that, actually! :) ...erm, how do you pronounce that? :( Is Badinage an english word for that?

My piece is in 3/4 time - the wiki stub for badinerie says that it's traditionally in 2/4 time. I hate the word "traditionally," lol...it always makes me question things even though I know it doesn't mean hard-and-fast rule. I'll consider your idea.

well, a bolero isn't in 3 either :D

pronounced bah-dinn-ree

as for wiki's definition of badinerie, remember that wiki contains information that people place on the net, it is NOT an infallible resource of absolute facts. There are actually serious factual errors on Wikipedia, it's just that no one has gotten around to cerrecting them yet.

a "badinerie" is not a recognized musical form per se. the only reason one would say it is "traditionally in 2" is that Bach's badinerie from the orchestral suite is in 2. So not much to go on, and certainly no reason to establish it as a necessarily 2/4 piece.

the important aspect is the character of the piece.

the definition of badinerie is "what we say or do jokingly".

Thanks for responding so quickly. Yeah, sometimes I forget that the information in wiki is from anyone.

I had never even heard the word before (badinerie). I learn something new every day.

I know you are a busy person, but may I PM you a link to the piece and you can tell me whether you think that it fits this character? I don't need a review or anything lengthy, I just wanted a very basic opinion about the character, since I am still sort of learning.

sure, no problem

however, how about "badinerie"? in French it implies the character of a scherzo.

Badinerie means (ahaha here I can answer since it's my mother tongue) something light and joyful... is trivial a word meaning that ? But I never saw it as a form or whatever... actually on the contrary it's the kind of piece (like a fantaisie) that is usually a bit less structured than a composed form like a sonate ofr example.