ostinato

ostinato Definition

os·ti·nato (äs′tə nät′ō; It ō̂s′tē nä′tō̂)

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.

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