1. An ornamental passage performed near the close of a composition, usually improvised, and usually performed by a soloist. Cadenzas are mostly to be found in arias or a concertos.
2. Italian term for cadence.

   Also [Fr.] cadence; [Ger.] Kadenz or Schluss; [It.] cadenza; [Sp.] cadencia.

SUGGESTED LISTENING EXAMPLES:

cadenza, Classical:
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467, I (cadenza)

W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 3, Track 6

cadenza, Romantic:
Tchaikovsky: Violin concerto in D major, Op. 35, I (cadenza, conclusion)

W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 3, Track 25