What is a Cadenza? A Breakdown of one of classical music’s most powerful moments.
One of my favorite memories of hearing live music as a child was seeing the world acclaimed violinist Sarah Chang perform Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. Most vivid in my memory was the cadenza - when for 5 minutes it was just Sarah Chang and her violin without orchestral accompaniment.
The power and virtuosity of the solo violin blew me away, but then the beauty of hearing the re-entrance of the theme and orchestra…this struck me deeply as a child and to this day serves as an example to me of the power of classical music to reflect the human & eternal story on a grand scale that truly transports the listener.
What is a cadenza?
A cadenza is the moment in a concerto when the the orchestra stops and the soloist plays alone, in a free, improvisatory style.
It gives the soloist a chance to develop previously introduced thematic material in a personalized take without the strictures of full notation, strict meter and orchestral accompaniment.
In this moment the piece is stripped bare, and the audience experiences a striking moment of musical contrast and intimacy: the soloist as a free individual, exposed in their full vitality and power.
The performer has the option to either make up an original cadenza or choose a cadenza written by famous musicians or composers. Because of this, cadenzas allow musical conversations across generations, creating new takes on older pieces!
2 Famous Examples of Cadenzas:
One of the most famous examples of this is Beethoven's cadenza that he wrote for Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor. The video below features a brilliant execution of Beethoven’s cadenza by Martha Argerich (who also conducts!)
The cadenza often occurs shortly before the final closing passage and showcases acrobatic detours away from the closing key before returning home (let’s be honest, it’s definitely also an excuse to show off the soloist’s virtuosity!)
2. Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2 features one of the most thunderous, powerful moments in all cadenzas. The piano’s capabilities are on full display, and the technical prowess is truly awe inspiring….
Below is the incredible Yuja Wang, performing the concerto at the Verbier festival in 2014. Wait for the moment when the orchestra stops and it’s just Yuja and the piano. It’ll take your breath away.
The cadenza often occurs shortly before the final closing passage and showcases acrobatic detours away from the closing key before returning home.
In this way, it’s a beautiful miniature reflection of what happens on a macro level in most pieces of music...a journey away from home (this is called the tonic in music), explorations through different key landscapes, and the final return to home (tonic) at the closing of the piece.
If you’d like to dive deeper into the Cadenza, check out my Listening Guide to the Cadenza, which breaks down its origin, history, and characteristics, providing 5 examples from 5 of the most famous violin and piano concertos. This 18 page digital download includes Spotify/Apple Music/Youtube Playlists, Study Questions, Composer + Composition Fun Facts, Musical Era Timeline, + Journaling Prompts.
🎼To listen to some of the greatest cadenzas in classical music, I’ve created a playlist for you, available through Apple Music and Spotify.