pastorale Hear it!

pastorale definition

pas·to·rale (pas′tə ral′, -räl′, -rä′lē; It päs′tō̂ rä′le)

noun pl. pastorales -·ra′les or pastorali -·ra′li (-lē)

  1. a composition in simple and idyllic style suggesting rural scenes
  2. a forerunner of opera consisting of a dramatic performance on an idyllic subject with incidental music

Etymology: It, lit., pastoral

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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