capriccio: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Artistic, Technical (Music/Art)
Quick answer
What does “capriccio” mean?
A lively, free-form musical composition, often whimsical or fanciful in character.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A lively, free-form musical composition, often whimsical or fanciful in character.
A sudden, impulsive change of mind or behaviour; a whim or caprice. In art, a type of painting or etching depicting a fantasy architectural landscape.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British classical music contexts due to historical conventions.
Connotations
Connotes high culture, classical music, and artistic sophistication in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language in both regions. Confined almost exclusively to specialised artistic and musical discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “capriccio” in a Sentence
[composer] composed a capriccio for [instrument]The programme included a lively capriccio by [composer]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “capriccio” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb form]
American English
- [No standard verb form]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form]
American English
- [No standard adverb form]
adjective
British English
- The piece had a wonderfully capriccio-like spontaneity.
American English
- Her capriccio mood led to some impulsive decisions.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in musicology and art history to describe specific compositions or artworks.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would likely be misunderstood.
Technical
Standard term for a specific musical form and a genre of fantastical landscape art.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “capriccio”
- Using it as a general synonym for 'whim' in everyday conversation.
- Pronouncing it /kæˈprɪkioʊ/ (hard 'c' sound).
- Misspelling as 'caprichio'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In music and art, 'capriccio' is a distinct technical term for a specific form or genre. In general language meaning 'a whim', 'caprice' is the standard word; 'capriccio' is an archaic or highly affected variant.
In British English: /kəˈprɪtʃɪəʊ/ (kuh-PRITCH-ee-oh). In American English: /kəˈpriːtʃioʊ/ (kuh-PREE-chee-oh). The 'cc' is pronounced like 'tch'.
It is not recommended. It is a specialised term from music and art. Using it to mean 'a sudden whim' will sound pretentious or confuse most listeners. Use 'whim', 'impulse', or 'caprice' instead.
Notable examples include Niccolò Paganini's '24 Caprices for Solo Violin', Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's 'Capriccio Italien', and the fantastical architectural etchings known as 'capricci' by artists like Giovanni Battista Piranesi and Canaletto.
A lively, free-form musical composition, often whimsical or fanciful in character.
Capriccio is usually formal, artistic, technical (music/art) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CAPtain being RIDICulously whimsical, conducting an orchestra with a flick of his wrist – a CAP-RIDIC-io.
Conceptual Metaphor
MUSIC/ART IS PLAYFUL IMPULSE; A WHIM IS A BRIEF, UNSTRUCTURED PERFORMANCE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'capriccio' most appropriately used?