Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun See
obbligato .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective See
obbligato .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun Alternative spelling of
obbligato .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a persistent but subordinate motif
- noun a part of the score that must be performed without change or omission
Etymologies
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Examples
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These songs need, indeed, no piano accompaniment or violin obligato.
The Irish Mind 1957
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It's not a coincidence that most of my Deserted Island operas are ones where the voice is just another instrument in the orchestral texture or as Salome was described: a tone poem with voice obligato.
Bel Canto 2009
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Ms. Wilson's current ensemble is further graced by the often astounding playing as on "St. James Infirmary Blues" of Swiss harmonica virtuoso Gregoire Maret , whose tone suggests the love child of an accordion and a conch shell, and whose playing here fills the role of both a horn obligato and a backup vocalist.
The Jazz Scene: Pay Attention to the Words Will Friedwald 2012
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This assumption that of all the hues of God whiteness alone is inherently and obviously better than brownness or tan leads to curious acts; even the sweeter souls of the dominant world as they discourse with me on weather, weal, and woe are continually playing above their actual words an obligato of tune and tone, saying:
DARKWATER W.E.B. DU BOIS 2004
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MR: Who was the obligato vocalist during the verse who, by the way, came up with an annoyingly beautiful part that you expect to resolve on a note on which it never does?
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MR: Who was the obligato vocalist during the verse who, by the way, came up with an annoyingly beautiful part that you expect to resolve on a note on which it never does?
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Cue the primal drums, distant tribal calls, a dramatic orchestral entrance followed by a female obligato, then introduce those swelling multi-keyed minor chord progressions with military snares.
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Above the four-part harmony, Vera's voice floated light and clean following the high obligato line, a stunning feature that John must have written to display her exceptional voice.
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His mission is to flay alive the humbugs and hypocrites and the pedants and to chant robust folk-songs to the naked stars of the English world to a rousing obligato of clinking flagons.
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Taizé music is beautiful but simple, and working obligato parts into the music as the congregation sings adds a wonderful dimension to the worship.
bilby commented on the word obligato
"'I'll play the melody and when I point to you, Milligan, play the descending obligato.'
'What key?' asked Fildes, across the fiery divide.
'I play it in G major.'
'G? Major? I knew it when it was only a captain, sir.'
Over his head it went and plop against the cave wall."
- Spike Milligan, 'Mussolini: My Part In His Downfall.'
April 19, 2009
reesetee commented on the word obligato
Also spelled obbligato.
April 20, 2009