interludes
Breaks between acts
Interludes are intervals or breaks between other events.
Originally theatrical—short performances between acts of a play—the word now applies more broadly to any pause or intervening period: a brief interlude of peace between conflicts, musical interludes between speakers.
An interlude often carries a sense of pleasant respite from routine: a romantic interlude in Paris.
Temporary cessation of activity
- respiteShort pause from hardship
- intermissionScheduled performance pause
- recessPause in activity
- hiatusBreak in activity
breather · lull · interval · gap · downtime · reprieve · rest · relief
Break between acts
- intermissionScheduled performance pause
- curtainFabric hung for privacy
- intervalDuration between two points
- blackoutComplete power loss
scene · episode · divertissement · skit · sketch · vignette · aside · dumbshow
Introductory orchestral piece
- movementChange in position
- cadenzaExtended solo passage
- bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle
- passageSegment of text
segue · coda · refrain · fantasia · impromptu · nocturne · variation · modulation
Structure spanning an obstacle
- segueUnbroken passage between sections
- passageSegment of text
- intermezzoBrief linking musical passage
- meanwhileDuring the intervening time
meantime · in-between · connecting · linking · interim · intermediary · threshold · liminal
Secret romantic meeting
- rendezvousScheduled meeting at agreed location
- affairRomantic entanglement outside commitment
- liaisonConnector between groups
- dallianceBrief, casual romance
assignation · fling · encounter · tête-à-tête · escapade · intimacy · embrace · flirtation
pause
Temporary cessation of activity
- respiteShort pause from hardship
- intermissionScheduled performance pause
- recessPause in activity
hiatus · breather · lull · interval · gap · downtime · reprieve · rest · relief · timeout
entr'acte
Break between acts
- intermissionScheduled performance pause
- curtainFabric hung for privacy
- intervalDuration between two points
blackout · scene · episode · divertissement · skit · sketch · vignette · aside · dumbshow
overture
Introductory orchestral piece
passage · segue · coda · refrain · fantasia · impromptu · nocturne · variation · modulation · intermezzo
bridge
Structure spanning an obstacle
- segueUnbroken passage between sections
- passageSegment of text
- intermezzoBrief linking musical passage
meanwhile · meantime · in-between · connecting · linking · interim · intermediary · threshold · liminal
tryst
Secret romantic meeting
- rendezvousScheduled meeting at agreed location
- affairRomantic entanglement outside commitment
- liaisonConnector between groups
dalliance · assignation · fling · encounter · tête-à-tête · escapade · intimacy · embrace · flirtation
- instrumentalsguitar solo, guitar solos, drum solo, piano solos, drum solos
- music partssolos, duets, arias, overtures, codas
- Tudor entertainmentShakespeare, Elizabethan theatre, masques, morality plays, mystery plays
- Tudor literatureShakespeare, sonnets, Elizabethan drama, blank verse, Spenser
- program insertsliner notes, program notes, tracklist, track listing, cast list
- liturgical organpostludes, recessional music, toccatas, seasonal variations
interludescenterpieces
Decorative table arrangements
climaxes · highlights · headliners · focal points · keynotes
interludessubstance
Physical material with mass
meat · body of work · fundamentals · crux
- musical interludesBrief compositions between sections
- comic interludesHumorous passages in serious works
- comedic interludeHumorous segment within performance