The passage of improvisatory display for the soloist, especially in a concerto. It typically interrupts the tonic cadence before the coda or final orchestral ritornello in a concerto movement. Cadenzas were at first improvised by the soloist, as was the case when Mozart played his own piano concertos. Beethoven, for example, wrote down cadenzas to some of his concertos, and these are always used (ex. Beethoven: Fourth Piano Concerto). Later composers--Schumann, in his Piano Concerto; Mendelssohn, in his Violin Concerto, etc.--incorporated the cadenzas into the fabric of the piece. A few modern virtuosi are good enough at improvisation to fashion cadenzas on the spot, but this is quite rare today: cadenzas are virtually always pre-rehearsed.
An improvised passage for a soloist, usually placed within the closing ritornello in a concerto movement.
(cah-DEN-zah) A musical flourish often extemporized by the performer, which occurs when an aria or section of an aria seems to be coming to a close (coming to a cadence.) Also heard in solo instrumental works. Until the time of Verdi, cadenzas were almost always improvised by the performer and were seldom written out by the composer.
solo section in an improvisatory style
A passage of singing, often at the end of an aria, which shows off the singer's vocal ability.
a brilliant solo passage occuring near the end of a piece of music
an extended section of free improvisation
a portion of a concerto in which the orchestra stops playing, leaving the just the soloist to elaborately play
a section near the end when the orchestra drops off and lets the singer perform on his own
a showy passage, lasting up to a few minutes, which was based on one or more of the themes or tunes heard earlier on
elaborate solo passage near the end of a movement
A virtuosic musical passage most commonly played or sung by a soloist at the end of a solo concerto movement or aria. Traditionally these were improvised by the performer as a means of displaying their talent and proficiency with their instrument or voice, whilst enhancing the musical depth of the piece.
a section of a concerto movement that is reserved for a soloist. It was originally intended to be improvised upon the tune already heard, but most soloists plan their cadenzas ahead of performance.
section for solo instrument without orchestral accompaniment
Near the end of an aria, a series of difficult, fast high notes that allow the singer to demonstrate vocal ability.
A parenthetic flourish in a solo piece commonly just before a final or other important cadence.
An ornamental passage at a cadence; usually without accompaniment
a free, solo passage that may or may not conform to the meter.
same as the second use of Cadence. See Cadence.
literally, cadence; in common usage, however, the term means an improvised or written-out solo passage, usually highly ornamental. Almost always occurs during an interrupted cadence; that is, on the second or third chord prior to a cadence.
In a concerto, a brilliant, unaccompanied solo section, once improvised by the player, now more often already composed. It enlarges on the themes set forth in the work and exhibits the player's technique.
An extended solo passage, usually near the end of a piece, improvised by the performer, or sometimes written out by the composer.
A solo passage, either written by the composer or improvised by the performer, preceding the capitulation of the piece.
Virtuosic solo passage in the manner of an improvisation, performed near the end of an aria or a movement of a concerto.
kah- dehn-zah] (Italian) "cadence." A virtuoso passage usually found near the end of a concerto movement or vocal aria . Cadenzas are often based on the themes of the piece in which they appear and are improvisatory in style. In the Classical and Romantic periods performers were expected to improvise or provide their own cadenzas, although Mozart began the practice of providing written cadenzas for some of his piano concertos.
(cah-DENT-sah) A musical flourish, frequently made up on the spot by the performer, which occurs when an aria or a section of an aria seems to be coming to its close (its cadence spot); until the time of Verdi, cadenzas were expected to be improvised by the performer and were seldom notated precisely by the composer. The long passage between soprano and flute in the mad scene of LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR is an improvised double cadenza for those performers.
a long (unnecessary) passage, often in a concerto, where the soloist shows off in an attempt to justify his/her astronomical fee
n. An embellishment or flourish, prepared or improvised, for a solo voice or instrument.
A series of difficult, fast, high notes, sung at the end of an aria. Often improvised, singers use them to demonstrate their vocal abilities.
a solo passage, often virtuosic, usually near the end of a piece, either written by the composer or improvised by the performer.
Elaborate passage for the soloist(s) interpolated usually near the end of a movement, often not written out by the composer, but left to the performer to improvise.
A cadenza is often now taken to mean a portion of a concerto in which the orchestra stops playing, leaving the soloist to play alone in free time (without a strict, regular pulse) and can be written or improvised, depending on what the composer specifies. This normally occurs near the end of the first movement, though it can be at any point in a concerto; an example is Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto, where in the first five minutes a cadenza is used. It usually is the most elaborate part that the solo instrument plays during the whole piece.