A
scherzo (; ; plural
scherzos or
scherzi), in
western classical music, is a piece of
music, often a
movement from a larger piece such as a
symphony or a
sonata. The precise definition has varied over the years, but scherzo often refers to a movement that replaces the
minuet as the third movement in a four-movement work, such as a symphony, sonata, or string quartet. Scherzo also frequently refers to a fast-moving humorous composition that may or may not be part of a larger work.