The caesura
Example: The composer skillfully used the caesura to create dramatic pauses.
Definition
"The caesura" in music is a deliberate pause or break within a musical phrase, creating a moment of silence or interruption that adds emphasis and dramatic effect. Composers use the caesura to enhance expression and shape the flow of a piece.
Etymology
"The caesura" originates from the Latin word 'caesura,' meaning 'a cutting' or 'a break.' This term was adopted into musical terminology to describe breaks in the flow of music, much like a cut or pause in speech or poetry. Did you know? The concept originally referred to a break in a line of poetry before being applied to music.
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"The caesura" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - Music - (C2) - set 1", containing 99 commonly used words.
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