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; cf. chance

Explanation

A cadenza is a solo that’s part of a larger piece of music such as a concerto. It takes great skill to play a cadenza. Have you ever been to a rock concert and heard the guitarist or drummer do a solo? A cadenza is kind of like that, except it’s part of the classical-music tradition. Cadenzas are for virtuosos: extremely talented, expert players of their instruments. Often, a cadenza comes near the end of a piece, and the cadenza should be an exciting, powerful climax. Like many musical terms, it's on permanent loan from Italian; cadence is the closest word in modern English.

Example Sentences

This brooding, 25-minute piece begins with a passionate violin cadenza, played like the rest of the concerto with heated commitment from Stewart, and then evolves frequently, without defined section breaks.

From New York Times • Mar. 28, 2024

Another clip, titled “She Practiced 40 Hours a Day for This,” captures a virtuosic Mozart piano cadenza by Mitsuko Uchida.

From New York Times • Mar. 12, 2024

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

And his cadenza teased time itself — he played it with a clawing wit — one could hear anew why it made so many monocles drop when Adolph Brodsky premiered it in 1881.

From Washington Post • Oct. 28, 2022

Then suddenly she broke out into a fine old Italian aria, which she sang with much fire and expression, availing herself of every opportunity of fioriture and cadenza afforded by the song.

From A Life Sentence A Novel by Sergeant, Adeline