ritornello

[ rit-er-nel-oh; Italian ree-tawr-nel-law ]

noun

, Music.

, plural ri·tor·nel·los, ri·tor·nel·li [rit-er-, nel, -ee, r, ee-taw, r, -, nel, -lee].

1. an orchestral interlude between arias, scenes, or acts in 17th-century opera.
2. a tutti section in a concerto grosso, aria, etc.

ritornello

/ ˌrɪtəˈnɛləʊ /

noun

1. an orchestral passage between verses of an aria or song
2. a ripieno passage in a concerto grosso

Word History and Origins

Origin of ritornello¹

1665–75; < Italian, diminutive of ritorno return

Word History and Origins

Origin of ritornello¹

C17: from Italian, literally: a little return, from ritorno a return

Example Sentences

She sang a couplet and the others sang in chorus a ritornello.

From Project Gutenberg

The ritornello is first given, which is long, because it serves as an introduction to the first scene of the opera.

From Project Gutenberg

What it probably did was to repeat as a sort of ritornello the clearly marked refrain of the song.

From Project Gutenberg

The same may be said about the Stornello, Ritornello and Ciure.

From Project Gutenberg