cadenza

[ kuh-den-zuh ]

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.

cadenza

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cadenza¹

1745–55; < Italian < Vulgar Latin *cadentia a falling, equivalent to Latin cad ( ere ) to fall + -entia -ency; chance

Word History and Origins

Origin of cadenza¹

C19: from Italian; see cadence

Example Sentences

The last movement had the infectious gayety that Mozart's things often have, with a magnificent cadenza by himself.

From Project Gutenberg

When she got to the cadenza, he laid down his bton, and retired to lean against the door and enjoy it.

From Project Gutenberg

When the cadenza was reached in the public concert Beethoven quietly sat down.

From Project Gutenberg

I had asked Beethoven to write a cadenza for me, but he refused and told me to write one myself and he would correct it.

From Project Gutenberg

There is always a grand cadenza where you must play all alone and "make a splurge."

From Project Gutenberg