Example: The violinist improvised the cadenza beautifully during the concerto.
Definition
"The cadenza" is a solo passage in a musical concerto or aria, often virtuosic and improvised, where the performer showcases technical skill and expressiveness without orchestral accompaniment, usually occurring near the end of a movement.
"The cadenza" comes from the Italian word meaning 'cadence' or 'rhythmic closure.' It originally referred to the ornamental ending of a piece, and over time evolved into the elaborate solo section seen in concertos today. Did you know it was once typically improvised by performers?
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"The cadenza" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - Music - (C1) - set 1", containing 102 commonly used words.
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