Sehr lebhaft
German composer
Definition
Very lively. A recurring marking in Hindemith's three piano sonatas — the second movement of Sonata No. 3 and a movement in Sonata No. 1 — indicating the most propulsive, scherzo-like energy in each work. In the context of the 1936 sonatas, \"sehr lebhaft\" movements draw on both Baroque gigue energy and jazz-inflected rhythmic drive.
Interpretive Guidance
In Sehr lebhaft movements, the tempo must be genuinely fast — not \"lively with safety margins.\" The character is athletic, not frantic. Maintain articulatory clarity at full speed; Hindemith's counterpoint must remain audible even at the extremes.