obbligato Definition
a part of a piece of music, especially an opera, that must be performed without changes and is therefore obligatory.
Using obbligato: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "obbligato" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The violin solo was an obbligato in the aria.
Example
The obbligato part in the concerto was played by the oboe.
Example
The singer performed the obbligato with great skill.
obbligato Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for obbligato
Phrases with obbligato
a musical part that is essential to the melody and must be played or sung along with it
Example
The pianist played the obbligato accompaniment to the singer's aria.
Example
The obbligato passage in the symphony was played by the clarinet.
an instrument that plays an obbligato part in a piece of music
Example
The cello was the obbligato instrument in the quartet.
Origins of obbligato
from Italian 'obbligato', past participle of 'obbligare', meaning 'to oblige'
Summary: obbligato in Brief
'Obbligato' [ˌɑːblɪˈɡɑːtəʊ] refers to a musical part, often in an opera, that is essential and must be performed without changes. It can refer to an accompaniment, passage, or instrument, as in 'The violin solo was an obbligato in the aria.' 'Obbligato' is a formal term that denotes something mandatory or required.
