ritornello

American  

[rit-er-nel-oh, ree-tawr-nel-law] / ˌrɪt ərˈnɛl oʊ, ˌri tɔrˈnɛl lɔ /

noun

Music.

ritornellos, plural ritornelli plural

1. an orchestral interlude between arias, scenes, or acts in 17th-century opera.

2. a tutti section in a concerto grosso, aria, etc.

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ritornello British  

/ ˌrɪtəˈnɛləʊ /

noun

1. an orchestral passage between verses of an aria or song

2. a ripieno passage in a concerto grosso

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• ritornelli
  plural
• ritornellos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of ritornello

1665–75; < Italian, diminutive of ritorno return

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ritornello ritornellos

The tenor starts out in synch with the ritornello; attempts to assume an independent melodic shape; and then, failing that, tries to join up with the accompaniment again.

From The New Yorker ● Dec. 25, 2016

It’s a ritornello, a continual refrain: ‘Be America! Be the future! Take back the narrative of Europe! Compete!’

From The New Yorker ● Jun. 22, 2015

And the mayor began to laugh with that expressionless laugh by which some persons end all their sentences; which may, perhaps, be called the ritornello of their conversation.

From The Deputy of Arcis by Wormeley, Katharine Prescott

After the ritornello the main theme is announced, with a long break between the first and second strains; and again a break before it is continued.

From Richard Wagner Composer of Operas by Runciman, John F.

The ritornello falls into statement and counterstatement, and the counterstatement secures one repetition of the tune, after which no more is heard of it.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 8 "Haller, Albrecht" to "Harmonium" by Various

Written down a score of ritornellos; I have chosen the best of them.

From Recollections of My Childhood and Youth by Brandes, Georg Morris Cohen

And to my surprise, I discovered that they were all what we call ritornellos.

From Recollections of My Childhood and Youth by Brandes, Georg Morris Cohen