cadenza
noun
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A concerto is a large piece for an instrumental soloist (usually playing piano or violin) and orchestra. Concertos are often extremely demanding for the soloist, but the most difficult part of all may be the cadenza, when the orchestra drops out completely, leaving the soloist to dazzle the audience with a set of flourishes, often completely original, right before a movement ends. Cadenzas are also heard in many vocal arias, especially those of the 18th century. The word, borrowed from Italian, originally meant "cadence;" thus, the cadenza, even if it lasts for a couple of minutes, is essentially a decoration of the final important harmonic cadence of the piece.
Examples of cadenza in a Sentence
Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 11 Oct. 2024
After opening with a quickly escalating cadenza, Tamestit took on the character of a Charon-like guide through a desolate landscape, with no reprieve or escape in sight.
—Joshua Barone, New York Times, 31 May 2024
The main theme, a declamatory seven-note figure, later becomes the basis for a fantastical cadenza on vibraphone, played poetically by Yeh.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2024
The topic disclosed over the next 10 minutes appeared to be the violin’s music, submerged beneath clarinets and brass, breaking through in the final minute for a furious cadenza.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Cadenza.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cadenza. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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cadenza
noun
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