ritornello

In Baroque concertos, the ritornello is a recurring passage played by the full ensemble (tutti) that alternates with episodes for the soloist or small group. The word means little return in Italian, reflecting the theme's regular reappearance throughout the movement. Vivaldi perfected the ritornello form in his hundreds of concertos. The ritornello typically appears in different keys and sometimes in shortened or varied forms as the movement progresses. This structure created a satisfying balance between the familiar (the recurring theme) and the novel (the soloist's episodes). The ritornello principle influenced the development of sonata form in the Classical era.