Orchestra CFE Practice Exam

Which term denotes a short, silent break in music?

Blend Bridge Cadence Cesura

Correct Answer:

Cesura

Explanation:

A short silent break in music is called a caesura. It marks a brief pause within a phrase, where the sound stops momentarily but the rhythm picks up again right after. It isn’t about ending a section with a final harmonic point (that’s a cadence) and it isn’t about moving to a contrasting section (that would be a bridge). It also isn’t a standard term for any kind of blend. In scores, you’ll sometimes see the caesura indicated by a // symbol, signaling performers to hold the silence briefly before continuing. Note that cesura is simply a variant spelling of the same idea; caesura is the common form.

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