noun
- plural of ritornello; short instrumental passages or refrains that recur in a musical composition, especially in baroque concertos and arias
Usage: music theory
Examples
- The concerto featured elaborate ritornellos between the solo passages.
- Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos are famous for their intricate ritornellos.
- The aria was structured with recurring ritornellos that unified the piece.
- Students analyzed the ritornellos to understand the composition’s form.
- The orchestra played the ritornellos while the soloist rested.
- Vivaldi’s Four Seasons contains memorable ritornellos that return throughout each movement.