ostinato Hear it!

ostinato Definition

os·ti·nato (äs′tə nätō; It ō̂s′tē nätō̂)

noun pl. -·tos′-ōz′; It, -tō̂s

Music a short melodic phrase persistently repeated by the same voice or instrument and at the same pitch

Etymology: It, lit., obstinate

ostinato Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • create: The children started by creating a weather ostinato using the Silver Synth.
  • play: First she got us into the swing of things by asking us to play an ostinato ( a repetitive piece of short music ).

Adjective modifier

  • rhythmic: Add a simple percussion accompaniment incorporating the playing of a pulse and either the rhythm or a rhythmic ostinato.
  • melodic: Ask them to repeat their tune several times ( melodic ostinato ). Experiment with different combinations.

Modifies a noun

  • pattern: A suggested activity is: " Create an ostinato pattern using a sequencer to suggest a space vehicle traveling through deep space.
  • rhythm: Only once is the tranquil ostinato rhythm disturbed to allow a short, peaceful passage on a solo violin.
  • bass: The ostinato bass of the organ underpins an edgy dissonant right-hand with the voices singing a forlorn melodic line.
  • figure: The second, the most substantial, employs a powerful ostinato figure in the bass.

Noun used with modifier

  • bass: Neptune is a slow, trance-inducing track which builds around a simple piano and bass ostinato in the style of nouveau rockers Tortoise.

Browse dictionary entries near ostinato

  1. ostiary
  2. Ostiak
  3. Ostia
  4. Österreich
  5. osteotomy
  6. osteotome
  7. osteosis
  8. osteosarcoma
  9. osteoporosis
  10. osteoplastic
  1. ostiole
  2. ostium
  3. ostler
  4. ostomate
  5. ostomy
  6. ostosis
  7. ostracism
  8. ostracize
  9. ostracized
  10. ostracod