Ostinato
(oe-stee-NAH-toe)
[It., unceasing, obstinate]
A short
melodic
,
rhythmic
, or
harmonic
pattern that is repeated throughout an entire
composition
or some portion of a
composition
.
SUGGESTED LISTENING EXAMPLES:
Couperin
: Second livre de clavecin, "Les barricades misterieuses"
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank
--
Disc 2, Track 60
Ostinato, 20th century:
Prokofiev
: Lieutenant Kijé Suite, Op. 60, "Romance"
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank
--
Disc 2, Track 16
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