Definition of the word cadenza

The origin of the musical term "cadenza" can be traced back to the Italian word "cadere," which means "to fall." In classical music, particularly in Baroque and Classical periods, a cadenza refers to a skilled solo passage within a composition that is improvised or written out by the performer before reverting back to the original melody. It typically occurs at the end of a movement, often as a brilliant and virtuosic display of the soloist's technical abilities. The term "cadenza" originally referred to the falling melodic or harmonic line that brought a piece of music to a close but evolved over time to encompass a broader range of musically dazzling and expressive passages.