noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   A recurring tutti passage in Baroque music for orchestra or chorus.

Synonyms

All synonyms

bobbridgeburdencadencechantchorus

Etymology

Italian ritornello, diminutive of ritorno (“return”), from ritornare (“to return”): compare French ritournelle.

Related phrases

concerto grosso

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.