postlude

[ pohst-lood ]

noun

, Music.

1. a concluding piece or movement.
2. a voluntary at the end of a church service.

postlude

/ ˈpəʊstluːd /

noun

1. music a final or concluding piece or movement
2. a voluntary played at the end of a Church service

Word History and Origins

Origin of postlude¹

1850–55; post- + -lude < Latin lūdus game, modeled on prelude

Word History and Origins

Origin of postlude¹

C19: from post- + -lude, from Latin lūdus game; compare prelude

Example Sentences

Carpeaux’s bust is a postlude to slavery in France, more of a congratulatory patriotic exercise than a direct appeal to the conscience.

From Washington Post

It’s in five movements, with a little postlude, and each movement explores one of the classical Indian elements — the five elements that are used in Ayurveda medicine, for example: space, air, fire, water and earth.

From Seattle Times

Terror turns to mere sadness as a muted ensemble of bassoon and three contrabass clarinets — a feature of Eastman’s idiosyncratic, extravagant orchestration — offers a stunned postlude.

From New York Times

I know this because Sting once put his hand supportively on my back while I practiced the postlude of Schumann’s song cycle “Dichterliebe,” and I haven’t washed that shirt since.

From New York Times

And I’m really proud of the orchestral moments: The Act I postlude is one of the most beautiful things Bernstein ever wrote.

From New York Times

Related Words

• afterword
• coda
• postscript
• summation