ostinato
[ os-ti-nah-toh; Italian aws-tee-nah-taw ]
/ ˌɒs tɪˈnɑ toʊ; Italian ˌɔs tiˈnɑ tɔ /
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noun, plural os·ti·na·tos.Music.
a constantly recurring melodic fragment.
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Origin of ostinato
1875–80; <Italian: literally, obstinate <Latin obstinātusobstinate
Words nearby ostinato
osteotribe, osteotrite, Österreich, Ostia, ostiary, ostinato, ostiole, ostitis, ostium, ostium abdominale tubae uterinae, ostium of uterus
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for ostinato
In my opinion, your Basso ostinato should be written in 3/4 or 6/4 time, but not in 5/4.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste TchaikovskyIt is generally accompanied by doubles or variations, and is invariably written on a ground bass or basso ostinato.
Critical & Historical Essays|Edward MacDowellA constantly repeated bass is called a "basso ostinato," and this is the first example of it.
How Music Developed|W. J. HendersonYou have made just such a mistake in your otherwise beautiful Basso ostinato.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
British Dictionary definitions for ostinato
ostinato
/ (ˌɒstɪˈnɑːtəʊ) /
noun
- a continuously reiterated musical phrase
- (as modifier)an ostinato passage
Word Origin for ostinato
Italian: from Latin obstinātus obstinate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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