Vivace

Vivace asks for a lively, brisk manner of playing. The word points to animation as well as speed. The marking is normally printed above the staff at the start of a piece or a new section. It guides the performer until another tempo instruction changes it.

The 164 BPM example gives you a point to try, not an official definition. Italian tempo words cover a range, and published charts do not agree on exact boundaries. If a score specifies a note value and metronome number, such as quarter note = 164, that gives a measurable pulse.

At 164 BPM, count four quick beats and make the first attack of each bar clear. Try the same tempo with dull, even attacks: the BPM is unchanged, but the musical character changes.

Vivace is commonly faster or more animated than Allegro and less extreme than Presto. Some scores use 'Allegro vivace', combining the broad tempo with a character instruction. Follow any metronome number given by the composer. For a direct A/B test, use the same four notes at the example pace and at the pace suggested on the Presto page. Listen for the distance between the main beats, not just the number of notes you play.