Definition

Noun: A short, distinct section or segment within a larger musical composition. It is a coherent unit of music that can be identified by its melodic, harmonic, or rhythmic ideas.

Usage

The term "musical passage" is used to refer to a specific, often extractable, portion of a piece of music. It is a neutral, descriptive term common in music analysis, performance instructions, and discussion. - The cello has a beautiful solo in the following musical passage. - Let's practice that difficult musical passage one more time. - The transition between the two themes is handled in a short bridge passage.

Advanced Usage

• Instrumental Passage: A section of music played by instruments, often without vocals.
  • The symphony features a long, complex instrumental passage for the woodwinds.
• Transitional Passage: A section that connects two main themes or parts of a composition.
  • The composer used a modulating passage to move smoothly from the key of C major to G major.

Variants and Related Words

• Passage (noun): In a general musical context, "passage" is often used interchangeably with "musical passage."
  • The virtuosic passage requires great technical skill.
• Section (noun): A broader term for a major part of a composition (e.g., exposition, development, recapitulation in sonata form). A passage is typically a smaller unit within a section.
• Phrase (noun): A smaller musical unit than a passage, often equivalent to a musical sentence, typically a few measures long.

Synonyms

• Segment: A part into which something is divided.
• Excerpt: A short extract from a piece of music or writing.
• Section (in the specific sense of a shorter part).

Related Phrases

• Orchestral Passage: A passage played by the full orchestra or a large portion of it.
  • The powerful orchestral passage concludes the movement.
• Vocal Passage: A section of music written for singers.
  • The soprano's vocal passage in the aria is particularly demanding.

Noun

1. a short section of a musical composition