noun
cadenza
kuh-DEN-zuh/kəˈdenzə/
A solo passage showcasing a performer's skill in a larger musical work.
The violinist plays a brilliant cadenza while the accompanying musicians wait silently.
Etymology
The source word names a musical conclusion. The English sense focuses on an ornamental passage near the close of a song or solo, connecting the showy display with its concluding position.
In context
the Cadenza an improvised section for The Soloist it usually comes at the end of the first movement it's a real chance to show off
More examples
- Her cadenza explored themes from the concerto.
- The violinist wrote a new cadenza for the performance.
- A long cadenza showcased the soloist's control and imagination.
Forms
cadenza · cadenzas
Similar words
- solo
- Any passage for one performer, while cadenza is a featured display within a larger work.