Group embraces, quietly departing (5)
I believe the answer is:
class
'group' is the definition.
(class can mean a group of things)
'embraces quietly departing' is the wordplay.
'embraces' becomes 'clasps' (I've seen this before).
'quietly' becomes 'p' (p for piano and quiet).
'departing' is a deletion indicator.
'clasps' with 'p' removed is 'CLASS'.
(Other definitions for class that I've seen before include "Genre" , "Category; lesson" , "Standing" , "It may appear after working" , "showing stylish excellence" .)