interlude

An interlude is a short piece of entertainment or a brief interval that occurs between the main parts of a performance or activity. The word comes from the Old French entrelude, from Latin interludium, itself from inter "between" and ludus "play." In theatre and live performance, interludes were historically short dramatic sketches, comic scenes, or musical numbers presented between acts or during pauses in a program. In medieval and Renaissance Europe, interludes often functioned as standalone morality tales or entertaining diversions that accompanied feasts or pageantry; they could be political or social commentary and were sometimes designed for audiences with varied literacy levels.

In music, an interlude is a shorter composition inserted within a larger work or between movements, intended to provide transition, contrast, or a respite. Instrumental interludes are common in classical symphonies and suites, while vocal interludes may appear as bridges or atmospheric segments in songs and operas.

In contemporary usage, interludes appear in albums as tracks that separate songs, in films and television as short transitional scenes, and in literature as brief chapters or sections inserted to shift perspective or break rhythm. The term can also denote a lull in narrative or a pass-through segment that invites reflection.

Overall, interludes function as deliberate pauses or bridges designed to modulate pace, provide variety, or frame the surrounding material without forming part of the main sequence.