cadenza

American  

[kuh-den-zuh] / kəˈdɛn zə /

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.

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cadenza British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of cadenza

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

Example Sentences

There is a spot in the “All’Italiana,” right after the cadenza, where the piano has these huge chords in left and right and they run toward each other.

From New York Times • Jun. 20, 2023

He brought gripping drama to its formidable first cadenza — and while many pianist’s accounts leave you marveling at its difficulty, Trifonov’s take was characterized by effervescence and ease.

From Washington Post • Apr. 19, 2023

And his cadenza teased time itself — he played it with a clawing wit — one could hear anew why it made so many monocles drop when Adolph Brodsky premiered it in 1881.

From Washington Post • Oct. 28, 2022

She offers an arresting cadenza, but one more studied than instinctive.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 18, 2022

I had begged him to compose a cadenza for me, but he directed me to write one myself.

From Beethoven: A Memoir (2nd Ed.) by Graeme, Elliott