cantilena

[ kan-tl-ee-nuh ]

noun

1. a simple, lyric, melodic passage for voice or instrument.

cantilena

/ ˌkæntɪˈleɪnə /

noun

1. a smooth flowing style in the writing of vocal music

Word History and Origins

Origin of cantilena¹

1730–40; < Italian < Latin cantilēna refrain, perhaps by dissimilation from *cantilēla, derivative of cantus song; cant ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cantilena¹

C18: Italian, from Latin cantilēna a song

Example Sentences

A similar freely riming poem in lines of seven syllables is Villegas' Cantilena (p. 17).

From Project Gutenberg

The term cantilena is given to any short piece of verse intended to be set to music (p. 17).

From Project Gutenberg

Almost any really good melodic line, especially a cantilena, will sound with a fitting harmonic development.

From Project Gutenberg

The successors of these supple singers even learned to sing Richard Strauss with broad cantilena effects.

From Project Gutenberg

The accent here too is perfectly pleasing, intelligible, and expressive; and I like their cantilena vastly.

From Project Gutenberg