patter song

American  

noun

1. a comic song depending for its humorous effect on rapid enunciation of the words, occurring most commonly in comic opera and operetta.

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patter song British  

noun

1. music a humorous song or aria, the text of which consists of rapid strings of words

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Etymology

Origin of patter song

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

Mr. Brady pulled off Don Profondo’s patter song “Medaglie incomparabili,” a tongue-twisting list of precious objects, as an auctioneer’s spiel.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s a huge moment in the show and a huge patter song.

From New York Times

For the “Pickwick” patter song, they reached out to Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the theater veterans who musicalized “Hairspray” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” — and who actually gave Pasek and Paul their big break on Season 2 of TV series “Smash” in 2013.

From Los Angeles Times

Oliver brings in Matthew Broderick, playing himself with exaggerated smarm, who effortlessly breezes through the patter song.

From Los Angeles Times

Evelyn's is a patter song and it’s very ga-ga-ga-ga-ga, because her brain is sort of everywhere.

From Salon