Ann Kruse, age 13, of Freeport, Ill., for her question:

IN MUSIC, WHAT IS A CADENZA?

   A cadenza in music is a virtuosic solo passage, either improvised  or precomposed in the spontaneous, free sounding style of an improvisation,  inserted near the end of a musical composition or section.  Cadenzas provide a soloist with opportunities not only to demonstrate technical brilliance but also to show musical ability at elaborating  on the basic materials of a composition.

Candenzas first flourished in 17th  and 18th century opera when p singers improvised florid decorations immediately before the final cadence of an aria.

Candenzas are most familiar to modern listeners in instrumental concertos, where they occur near the end of some or all movements. Since about 1800, composers have generally written out cadenzas, which are rarely improvised today.