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Ritornello

Device
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Ritornello is a repeated phrase, line, or stanza functioning as a refrain to anchor thematic or musical structure in poetry or song.

Detailed Definition
Ritornello is a recurring refrain or musical phrase in poetry, borrowed from Baroque composition, that returns at intervals to anchor thematic development or emotional tone; it appears in lyrical and dramatic verse to create cyclical structure and resonant echo.
Example
Example in poetry:
Ritornello (recurring refrain) appears in medieval ballades: “Mais ou sont les neiges d’antan?”; modern example: Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” uses ritornello for protest; ritornello provides structural anchor in variable stanzas; it’s common in folk and liturgical poetry; this device creates communal participation; it often marks thematic return.
Additional Notes
Refrain section returning between verses. Musical term in poetry. Related to burden, refrain. Study tip: Mark recurring passages; notice how context changes meaning with each return.
Also Known As
Little return Refrain device Ritornello form Returning phrase
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