Definition

1. Noun:
   • A brilliant solo passage occurring near the end of a piece of music: A cadenza is an elaborate, often improvised, solo section in a concerto or other classical composition, typically placed near the end of a movement to showcase the performer's virtuosity.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The violinist's cadenza was breathtaking, filled with rapid scales and intricate arpeggios.
  • In this concerto, the composer wrote out the cadenza instead of leaving it to the performer's improvisation.

Advanced Usage

• "To perform/play a cadenza": This is the standard phrasing for executing this musical passage.
  • The audience waited in silent anticipation as the pianist prepared to perform the cadenza.
• Cadenza as a moment of display: The term can be used metaphorically to describe any flashy or virtuosic display of skill in a performance.
  • His speech concluded with a rhetorical cadenza that left the audience applauding.

Variants and Related Words

• Cadence (n): A sequence of notes or chords comprising the close of a musical phrase. This is a related musical term but has a different meaning, referring to a harmonic progression that gives a sense of resolution.
• Cadential (adj): Relating to a cadence.

Synonyms

• Solo passage: A more general term for a section of music played by a single performer.
• Virtuoso passage: Emphasizes the technical skill required.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The term "cadenza" is specific to classical music terminology and does not have common, unrelated meanings in other contexts. Its core meaning is always tied to a solo passage within a larger composition.

Noun

1. a brilliant solo passage occurring near the end of a piece of music