ostinatos

Ostinato is a musical pattern that is persistently repeated in a piece. The repeating unit can be melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic, and it may underpin a short section or an entire work. Ostinatos are found across many musical styles and eras and are often used to create momentum, texture, or a hypnotic sense of continuity.

Types of ostinato include melodic ostinato, where a short melodic fragment repeats; rhythmic ostinato, which consists of a repeating drum or percussive figure; and bass ostinato or ground bass, a repeating bass line that provides harmonic foundation while upper voices vary. Ostinatos can be exact repetitions or allow slight variation over time.

Historically, ostinatos appear in various periods, with the term originating from the Italian ostinato, meaning stubborn or obstinate. The bass-led form, known as basso ostinato or ground bass, became a prominent Baroque device. In many traditions, ostinato-like repetition serves as a structural underpinning, sometimes continuing for extended passages while other elements elaborate above it.

Function and effect vary but often include establishing a stable pulse, guiding form, and generating a hypnotic or propulsive mood. Composers may vary melodic or harmonic content above the repeating pattern to create contrast, development, or variation within a repetitive framework.

Notable examples include Pachelbel's Canon in D, which features a repeating bass ostinato, and Ravel's Boléro, built on a persistent rhythmic ostinato. The concept also appears in jazz, where a vamp functions as an ostinato, as well as in many folk and popular traditions. See also: ground bass, basso ostinato, vamp.