cadenza

American  

[kuh-den-zuh] / kəˈdɛn zə /

noun

Music.

1. an elaborate flourish or showy solo passage, sometimes improvised, introduced near the end of an aria or a movement of a concerto.

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cadenza British  

/ kəˈdɛnzə /

noun

1. a virtuoso solo passage occurring near the end of a piece of music, formerly improvised by the soloist but now usually specially composed

2. informal a fit or convulsion

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Etymology

Origin of cadenza

1745–55; < Italian < Vulgar Latin *cadentia a falling, equivalent to Latin cad ( ere ) to fall + -entia -ency; chance

Example Sentences

He brought gripping drama to its formidable first cadenza — and while many pianist’s accounts leave you marveling at its difficulty, Trifonov’s take was characterized by effervescence and ease.

From Washington Post • Apr. 19, 2023

Schiff’s most characterful work, though, was in the Rondo finale, in which he rendered the cadenza as a grander conclusion, interjecting the “Don Giovanni” chords, then layering the overture and the concerto in clever counterpoint.

From New York Times • Apr. 16, 2023

The concerto is in four parts — five if you count the cadenza that bridges its final two movements.

From Washington Post • Jan. 20, 2023

She offers an arresting cadenza, but one more studied than instinctive.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 18, 2022

By way of illustrating my meaning, I struck a chord or two, and did my worst in imitation of the lovers' cadenza, and more specially of the effect produced by overpowering brass instruments.

From Fragments of an Autobiography by Moscheles, Felix