ritornello
Americannoun
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ritornellos,
plural
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ritornelli
plural
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an orchestral interlude between arias, scenes, or acts in 17th-century opera.
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a tutti section in a concerto grosso, aria, etc.
noun
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an orchestral passage between verses of an aria or song
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a ripieno passage in a concerto grosso
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of ritornello
1665–75; < Italian, diminutive of ritorno return
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
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
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
She sang a couplet and the others sang in chorus a ritornello.
From Critical Studies by Ouida
The opening of the second scene is in structure that of a Handel opera air: we have the ritornello, and presently the same music is repeated as the accompaniment of Wotan's salute to his castle.
From Richard Wagner Composer of Operas by John F. Runciman
And to my surprise, I discovered that they were all what we call ritornellos.
From Recollections of My Childhood and Youth by Georg Morris Cohen Brandes
Written down a score of ritornellos; I have chosen the best of them.
From Recollections of My Childhood and Youth by Georg Morris Cohen Brandes
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