ritournelle – Definition in music

Definition of the French term ritournelle in music:

a repeat
recurring passage or section in a piece of music
short instrumental prelude, interlude or postlude added to an aria or other type of song (especially in the 17th century)
final couplet of a madrigal (especially in the 14th century)

Language

French

Singular

ritournelle

Plural

ritournelles

French musical terms related to ritournelle:

alternativement – alternately...
avec reprise – with repeat
barre de répétition – repeat bar line
bis – again, twice, encore (direction to repeat a part)
du signe – to the sign (play to the segno sign)
renvoi – return...
répété – repeated...
répéter – to repeat...
répétez – repeat (imperative form)
reprise – repeat...
signe – sign (usually referring to the sign trois fois répété – three times repeated