passagework

[ pas-ij-wurk ]
/ ˈpæs ɪdʒˌwɜrk /

noun Music.

writing that is often extraneous to the thematic material of a work and is typically of a virtuosic or decorative character: passagework consisting of scales, arpeggios, trills, and double octaves.
the performance of such writing: The pianist's passagework is brilliantly clear and smooth.

Origin of passagework

First recorded in 1860–65; passage1 + work

British Dictionary definitions for passage work

passage work

noun

music scales, runs, etc, in a piece of music which have no structural significance but provide an opportunity for virtuoso display