Which term refers to a virtuoso solo passage inserted into a movement near the end?

• A. Organum
• B. Cadenza
• C. Motet
• D. Baroque Music

Answer: (B)

A cadenza is a virtuosic solo passage inserted into a movement near the end, giving the soloist a dramatic showcase before the final return of the ensemble. In classical repertoire, especially concertos, the orchestra often stops or reduces the texture and the soloist delivers an elaborate, often improvised-sounding line before the closing cadence. This moment highlights technical skill and expressive control and then the music moves back to the orchestra for the final bars.

Organum is medieval polyphony built over a chant line, not a solo display. A motet is a sacred choral work, typically for voices rather than a solitary instrument. Baroque music refers to a stylistic period, not a type of passage within a movement. The term that fits this specific description is cadenza.