Caesura
Definition. A pause or break in the flow of music, often indicated by parallel diagonal slashes (//) above the staff.
Detailed Explanation
The caesura, indicated by parallel diagonal slashes (//) above the staff (sometimes called ‘railroad tracks’), instructs all performers to pause briefly before continuing. The duration is short — typically a moment of silence rather than a long held breath — but the pause should be perceptible.
The caesura is a structural marking. It signals a momentary break in the flow of music, often between sections or before a particularly important arrival. Unlike a fermata (which holds a note or rest), the caesura is a pure silence — all sound stops, briefly, and then resumes.
In ensembles, the caesura requires coordination. All players stop together at the marking and resume together after the brief pause. The conductor’s gesture (or section leader’s breath) signals both the stop and the resumption.
Etymology
Latin, ‘a cutting’, from caedere (‘to cut’). The musical sense is borrowed from poetic terminology, where caesura denotes a break within a poetic line.
In Practice
Stop together, breathe, resume together. The caesura is a brief silence, not an indefinite pause — the music must pick up cleanly after a moment’s break.
Notable Examples
- Most composers — Common usage (frequent in dramatic and structural transitions)
Related Terms
Opposite Of
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Caesura mean in music?
A pause or break in the flow of music, often indicated by parallel diagonal slashes (//) above the staff.
Where does the word Caesura come from?
Latin, ‘a cutting’, from caedere (‘to cut’). The musical sense is borrowed from poetic terminology, where caesura denotes a break within a poetic line.
How is Caesura performed in practice?
Stop together, breathe, resume together. The caesura is a brief silence, not an indefinite pause — the music must pick up cleanly after a moment’s break.
What are common abbreviations for Caesura?
Caesura is commonly abbreviated as railroad tracks.
What musical terms are related to Caesura?
Related terms include: Fermata, Breath Mark.
Practice with Songtive's free tools
Hear this term applied — explore chord charts, fingerings and the music engine.
Piano chordsGuitar chordsVirtual piano
