brillante
Italian composer
Definition
Brilliant — a tempo and character marking indicating that passagework should be played with maximum clarity, speed, and sparkle. In the Romantic salon tradition, brillante passages are opportunities for virtuosic display while remaining under disciplined technical control.
Interpretive Guidance
Brillante does not mean rushed. Ensure every note of a brilliant passage is equal in weight and clarity — listeners should hear distinct pearls, not a blur. Practise at reduced tempo with exaggerated finger articulation before building to performance speed.