cadenza
noun
An elaborate solo passage near the end of a piece of music, typically in a concerto, allowing the performer to showcase virtuosity; any brilliant flourish.
Etymology
From Italian cadenza meaning "cadence," from Latin cadere (to fall), referring to the falling melodic phrases that conclude a musical period.
Examples in Use
- 1.
"The pianist played a dazzling cadenza that left the audience breathless."
- 2.
"She ended her speech with a verbal cadenza of eloquent phrases."
- 3.
"The composer wrote out the cadenza rather than leaving it to improvisation."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
Until the 19th century, cadenzas were typically improvised by performers on the spot. Mozart was famous for his improvised cadenzas, though later composers like Beethoven began writing them out to control the performance.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 7 letters (C, A, D, E, N, Z, A)
Scrabble Value: 19 points
Tip: Try building from common prefixes or suffixes when you spot these letters.
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