ritornello
Americannoun
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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
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.
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
Then, through a ventilator, he permitted these fragrant waves to escape, only preserving the field which he renewed, compelling it to return in his strophes like a ritornello.
From Against the Grain by Huysmans, J.-K. (Joris-Karl)
What it probably did was to repeat as a sort of ritornello the clearly marked refrain of the song.
From Some Forerunners of Italian Opera by Henderson, W. J. (William James)
Between the verses and at the close, a curious little ritornello is played.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 03, No. 18, April, 1859 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
