passagework

American  

[pas-ij-wurk] / ˈpæs ɪdʒˌwɜrk /

noun

Music.

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of passagework

First recorded in 1860–65; passage ¹ + work

Example Sentences

His passagework had a hard glare, and he lined up chords neatly like punctuation marks.

From New York Times • Sep. 30, 2022

Kern is a pianist of muscle and blazing, headlong speed: the densest passagework cruised, even occasionally hurtling past Slatkin’s warm, firmly outlined accompaniment.

From Washington Post • Dec. 6, 2019

Wallis Giunta sang Cinderella with a beautiful and subtle tone production that seemed to grow in strength to the final scene, which shone with her brilliant passagework and confident high notes.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 21, 2019

Here the high-and-mighty trumpet, lofty solo violin, middling oboe and lowly recorder uncharacteristically perform interchangeable lines of undifferentiated passagework:

From New York Times • Dec. 20, 2018

Although Watts’s passagework may be more effortful than in the past, the glories of his sound were still there: the muscular chords, the gleaming tone, and the ability to spin out an ever-so-delicate phrase.

From Washington Post • Nov. 19, 2017