passagework

[ pas-ij-wurk ]

nounMusic.
  1. writing that is often extraneous to the thematic material of a work and is typically of a virtuosic or decorative character: passagework consisting of scales, arpeggios, trills, and double octaves.

  2. the performance of such writing: The pianist's passagework is brilliantly clear and smooth.

Origin of passagework

1
First recorded in 1860–65; passage1 + work

Words Nearby passagework

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British Dictionary definitions for passage work

passage work

noun
  1. music scales, runs, etc, in a piece of music which have no structural significance but provide an opportunity for virtuoso display

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