ostinato explained

techniquesos-tee-NAH-tofrom Italian

A short musical pattern that repeats persistently throughout a passage or entire composition

In Depth

An ostinato (from the Italian ostinato, obstinate) can be rhythmic, melodic, or harmonic. It provides a stable foundation over which other voices change freely. Famous examples include Ravel's Boléro (a 17-bar snare drum ostinato repeated throughout), Holst's Mars (a relentless 5/4 rhythmic ostinato), and Pachelbel's Canon (an 8-bar bass ostinato). In popular music, ostinato patterns are called riffs, grooves, or loops. The technique is found in virtually every musical tradition worldwide.
Did you know?

Ravel's Boléro consists of a single melody repeated over the same two-chord ostinato for 17 minutes, with only the orchestration changing — it may be the most extreme ostinato in orchestral music.

Related Terms

ostinatoground bassrifflooppassacaglia

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ostinato→ground bass→riff→loop→