obbligato

American  

[ob-li-gah-toh, awb-blee-gah-taw] / ˌɒb lɪˈgɑ toʊ, ˌɔb bliˈgɑ tɔ /

adjective

1. (used as a musical direction) obligatory or indispensable; so important that it cannot be omitted.

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noun

plural

obbligatos, obbligati

1. an obbligato part or accompaniment.

2. a continuing or persistent subordinate or background motif.

3. a subordinate part of a solo.

obbligato British  

/ ˌɒblɪˈɡɑːtəʊ /

adjective

1. not to be omitted in performance

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noun

1. an essential part in a score

   with oboe obbligato

Etymology

Origin of obbligato

1715–25; < Italian: bound, obliged < Latin obligātus; obligate

Example Sentences

The instrumentation now comprises a 13-player Western ensemble and, especially for the scenes in exotic Bithynia, five obbligato Asian instruments and a full American gamelan, meaning a Javanese-style mostly metallic percussion orchestra made in America.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2017

Colin St. Martin’s elegant flute obbligato and Bradley Tatum’s beautiful, pure sound on the natural horn adorned this pungently colorful performance.

From Washington Post • Feb. 26, 2017

The obbligato viole d’amore parts in the bass arioso “Betrachte, meine Seel’,” were ravishingly played.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 2, 2014

On Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Inútil Paisagem,” Ms. Spalding sings a duet with Gretchen Parlato, another gifted jazz singer: it’s all bass, hand percussion and their voices, one burbling rhythmic obbligato behind the other.

From New York Times • Aug. 15, 2010

It was simple wolfish howling increased in fervour to an electric yell, with slight barks running continuously through it like an obbligato accompaniment.

From The Dog Crusoe and his Master by Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael)