Receiving Helpdesk

what does ritornello mean in music

by Kirsten Russel Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

little return

What is the meaning of ritornello?

a short intermediate symphony, or instrumental passage, in the course of a vocal piece; an interlude Etymology: [It. ritornello, dim. of ritorno return, fr. ritornare to return: cf. F. ritournelle.] A ritornello is a reinviting passage in Baroque music for orchestra or chorus.

How do you use a ritornello in music?

The most common use of the ritornello in instrumental music is the concerto, a composition for a solo instrument, such as violin or keyboard, and orchestra. The full orchestra plays the ritornello as an introduction. The soloist then plays the ''A'' section accompanied by a smaller group of instruments.

What is the difference between ritornello and concertino?

Ritornello. The repetition can be exact or varied to a greater or lesser extent. In the concerto grosso the full orchestra (tutti) has the ritornello; the solo group (concertino) has the contrasting episodes.

What is the difference between a ritornello and a rondo?

In these visits to different keys, ritornello form differs from the later Classical form rondo, in which the recurring section remains in the same key. Vivaldi also established a convention of using ritornello form for the quick opening and closing movements, with a contrasting slow movement in between.

What is an example of ritornello form?

An example of Ritornello form can be found in Bach's Brandenburg Concerto 4 in G: 1st Movement. Here, Bach utilises the form by making the ritornello sections tutti, whilst the episodes feature solos from the concertino, which includes 2 recorders and a violin.

How do you identify a ritornello?

The ritornello form was one of the musical structures developed in the Baroque period. It is characterised by a recurring A section in between new sections of music, and is often described as 'ABACA', where the A section contains a distinctive theme.

What is a ritornello melody?

ritornello, (Italian: “return”) also spelled ritornelle, or ritornel, plural ritornelli, ritornellos, ritornelles, or ritornels, a recurrent musical section that alternates with different episodes of contrasting material. The repetition can be exact or varied to a greater or lesser extent.

What is the role of ritornello?

The ritornellos are guideposts to the tonal structure of the music, confirming the keys to which the music modulates. The first and last statements are in the tonic; at least one (usually the first to be in a new key) is in the dominant; and others may be in closely related keys.

What is ritornello quizlet?

Ritornello. In Italian, refrain; a repeated section of music usually played by the full orchestra, or tutti, in Baroque composition. Typical concerto grosso movement.

What genre uses ritornello?

Many Baroque concertos are structured in a form known as ritornello form. In this form, a repeated section of music, the ritornello (literally, "the little thing that returns") alternates with freer episodes. Initially ritornellos were found in trecento Italian madrigals, such as those of Jacopo da Bologna.

What is the structure of ritornello form?

In ritornello form, the section A returns between each new section. It was commonly used in the Baroque period. The ritornello section - A - would often return in keys related to the tonic, for example, the dominant or the relative minor. If the original section was long, it would often return in a shortened version.

What is the difference between ritornello and rondo form?

While Rondo form is similar to ritornello form, it is different in that ritornello brings back the subject or main theme in fragments and in different keys, but the rondo brings back its theme complete and in the same key.

What is ritornello procedure in Baroque music?

Ritornello Form: ("Return") A Baroque formal design based on the dramatic alternation of two opposing entities: A "returning" big group ("Tutti") and a contrasting small one ("solo")--Tutti-Solo-Tutti-Solo-Tutti-Solo-Tutti, etc.

What is the best description of the ritornello form used in the fast movements of a Baroque concerto?

In ritornello form, the orchestra plays a recurring passage (known as a ritornello) in between different sections of music played by soloists. Vivaldi used ritornello form for the fast movements of his concertos.

When was ritornello form created?

The Development of the Ritornello Scholars are unsure about when exactly the ritornello was developed. However, it's generally accepted that the technique didn't become popular until the Baroque period, which lasts roughly from 1600 to 1750.

What is the structure of ritornello form quizlet?

It is a large 3-part form, usually with an Introduction, Exposition (A), Development (B), and Recapitulation (A), with a coda to end. Ritornello means "little return".

What is the ritornello in music?

The ritornellos are guideposts to the tonal structure of the music, confirming the keys to which the music modulates. The first and last statements are in the tonic; at least one (usually the first to be in a new key) is in the dominant; and others may be in closely related keys.

Who wrote the Ritornello?

The ritornello as a recurring tutti passage can be traced back to the music of sixteenth-century Venetian composer Giovanni Gabrieli. According to Richard Taruskin, these repeating passages are "endemic to the concertato style" which Gabrieli is credited with developing.

How many measures are in a Ritornello?

The opening ritornello is composed of several small units, typically two to four measures in length, some of which may be repeated or varied.

What is the last line of a madrigal?

The earliest use of the term "ritornello" in music referred to the final lines of a fourteenth-century madrigal, which were usually in a rhyme scheme and meter that contrasted with the rest of the song.

Who wrote the recurring ritornello?

Giuseppe Torelli wrote many violin concertos in which the fast movements used a recurring ritornello in between two extended solo passages of entirely new material. This form was standardized by Antonio Vivaldi, who wrote hundreds of concertos using a modification of Torelli's scheme.

Which composers followed Vivaldi's model?

Many later Baroque composers such as Bach and Telemann followed Vivaldi's models in composing their own concertos.

What is the meaning of the ritornello?

The ritornello is a musical idea that is repeated numerous times with different musical material in between each return.

What is the role of ritornello in music?

In operas and cantatas, the dominant vocal forms of the Baroque, ritornello was performed by the instruments that accompanied the singer for an aria, a solo song that give the singer an opportunity to show their technical and interpretative skills .

What is Ritornello 1710?

What is Ritornello? It's the year 1710, and on a trip to Venice, you just heard the most wonderful new composition by Antonio Vivaldi. You want to hear it again. You quickly scan the Venetian concert schedule for the week, but alas, there are no more Vivaldi concerts planned.

When was the Ritornello technique invented?

However, it's generally accepted that the technique didn't become popular until the Baroque period, which lasts roughly from 1600 to 1750.

Who used the ritornello in his arias?

There are countless examples of this use of the ritornello. George Friedrich Handel, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Claudio Monteverdi are three important composers who employed ritornello in their arias. Handel's arias Lascia ch'io pianga and Where'er You Walk are good examples.

Who was the master of the ritornello concerto?

This continues for however long the composer desires, ending with the ritornello. Antonio Vivaldi was the master of the ritornello concerto. He composed over 500 concerti, all of which use this form.

What was the most commonly used compositional technique of the Baroque period?

The ritornello, or 'little return,' was the most frequently used compositional technique of the Baroque Period. Let's learn why composers liked it so much and discuss important examples. Create an account.

Examples of ritornello in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web An orchestral ritornello serves as a bridge between each variation. — Anthony Tommasini, New York Times, 30 June 2017

History and Etymology for ritornello

Italian, diminutive of ritorno return, from ritornare to return, from ri- re- + tornare to turn, from Latin, to turn on a lathe — more at turn entry 1

Are we missing a good definition for ritornello? Don't keep it to yourself..

The ASL fingerspelling provided here is most commonly used for proper names of people and places; it is also used in some languages for concepts for which no sign is available at that moment.

Definitions & Translations

Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

Origin of ritornello

Italian ritornello, diminutive of ritorno return, from ritornare to return: compare French ritournelle.

Ritornello Sentence Examples

For example, after the customary second ritornello in the dominant a long unstable area weaves around a wide variety of keys.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9