Definition of ritornello
ritornelli
play \-ˈne-(ˌ)lē\ orritornellos
1a : a short recurrent instrumental passage in a vocal compositionb : an instrumental interlude in early opera
2 : a tutti passage in a concerto or rondo refrain
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Recent Examples of ritornello from the Web
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An orchestral ritornello serves as a bridge between each variation.
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Origin and Etymology of 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 1turn
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ritornello
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