View synonyms for cantata

cantata

[ kuhn-tah-tuh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a choral composition, either sacred and resembling a short oratorio or secular, as a lyric drama set to music but not to be acted.
a metrical narrative set to recitative or alternate recitative and air, usually for a single voice accompanied by one or more instruments.

cantata

/ kænˈtɑːtə /

a musical setting of a text, esp a religious text, consisting of arias, duets, and choruses interspersed with recitatives

cantata

A musical composition for voice and instruments and including choruses, solos, and recitatives .

Origin of cantata¹

1715–25; < Italian, equivalent to cant ( are ) to sing ( cant ¹ ) + -ata -ate ¹

Origin of cantata¹

C18: from Italian, from cantare to sing, from Latin

The cantata, often described as “challenging,” was sung entirely in German.

In spite of this official success, the cantata did not win the approval of the musical authorities.

Nevertheless, Cui did not handle the young composer so severely as on the occasion of his Diploma Cantata.

On this occasion he was well beforehand with the work, and sent in the cantata to the committee by the 1st of April.

There the pupils of the Conservatorium awaited them, and sang a cantata composed by Elsner for the occasion.

This ceremony was an annual function, one of its features being the performance of the cantata which had won the music prize.

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