ritornelli

Variant of ritornello

ritornello definition

ri·tor·nello (rit′ər nel′ō; Itrē′tō̂r nel′lō̂)

noun pl. ritornellos -·los or ritornelli -·li (-lē)

  1. an instrumental interlude before or after an aria, scene, etc. in early, esp. 17th-cent., operas
  2. a tutti section recurring in a concerto grosso or rondo

Etymology: It, dim. of ritorno, a return < ritornare, to return < ri- (< L re-), re- + tornare (< L), to turn

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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