what is an interlude

An interlude is an intervening or interruptive period, space, or event that is different from what comes before and after it. The term can refer to various things, including a short period of time when an activity or situation stops and something else happens, a musical composition inserted between the parts of a longer composition, a drama, or a religious service, or a moment in time where something occurs between two events in music. In music, an interlude can be either a major distinction between two pieces of music or a performance that intersects two different songs. Typically, the interlude will be drastically different from the two songs it comes between, creating an immediate interruption of the music and grabbing the attention of the listener. Interludes can be used in many different ways, but most commonly, they are used to transition from one part of a song to another, add a climax to a piece of music, change the mood of a song, or break up the traditional structure of a song that goes from verse to chorus and then another verse.