‖ ritornello Mus.
(ritorˈnello)
Also 7 return-, 8 retornello; 7–8 retornella; pl. 7 ritornelloes, 8 -ello's, 9 -elli.
[It., dim. of ritorno return n.]
An instrumental refrain, interlude, or prelude in a vocal work. Also fig.
| 1675 Shadwell Psyche v. 69 A Returnello by Martial Instruments. 1678 ― Timon ii. 31 Retornella of Houtboys. 1685 Dryden Alb. & Alban. v. iii, A full Chorus of all the Voices and Instruments: Trumpets and Hoit-Buoys make Ritornelloes of all Fame sings. 1706 A. Bedford Temple Mus. iv. 73 In our Anthems there are frequent Intermissions of all the Voices, when the Organ Plays alone, that which we call a Retornella. 1728 Chambers Cycl. s.v., In the Partitions or Score of the Italian Musick, we frequently find the Ritornello's signified by the Words si suona. 1795 Mason Ch. Mus. iii. 213 To Confine the Organist to a slightly ornamented Refraine or Ritornello at the end of each Stave or Stanza. 1811 Busby Dict. Music (ed. 3) s.v., It appears..that these Ritornelli, or symphonies, were introduced in the ancient as well as in the modern music. 1865 Pall Mall G. 19 May 11 The orchestra in the meanwhile gives expression to her grief in a ritornello which..is the most moving strain in the opera. 1874 Ouseley Mus. Form 67 Then two bars of instrumental ritornello are interpolated by way of prolongation. 1977 Times Lit. Suppl. 1 July 796/4 The Marxist theme is a ritornello appearing at the end of each chapter rather than at the conclusion of the book. 1978 Ibid. 13 Oct. 1153/3 What is the correlation between schools and literacy?.. The irrelevance of schools is a persistent ritornello here. |