Ostinato

Definition

An ostinato is a musical phrase or rhythm that is persistently repeated throughout a composition, creating a sense of structure and continuity. This technique is particularly significant in minimalism, where simple patterns are often reiterated to build texture and complexity over time, allowing for variations and transformations while maintaining a recognizable foundation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Ostinatos can be melodic, harmonic, or rhythmic, providing a unifying element in a piece of music.
2. In minimalist music, ostinatos often serve as the building blocks for larger structures, allowing composers to explore variations and transformations.
3. Famous examples of ostinato can be found in works by composers like Steve Reich and Philip Glass, where repetitive patterns create a hypnotic effect.
4. The use of ostinato helps create an immersive listening experience by establishing a sonic foundation that listeners can latch onto.
5. Ostinatos can evoke different emotional responses depending on their context and treatment within a composition, ranging from tranquility to tension.

Review Questions

• How does the use of ostinato enhance the overall structure of minimalist compositions?
  • Ostinato enhances minimalist compositions by providing a repetitive foundation that listeners can recognize and follow. This repetition allows composers to experiment with variations and shifts in harmony, melody, or rhythm while maintaining a cohesive musical landscape. As these patterns evolve, they contribute to the overall texture of the piece, creating a sense of progression and transformation that is characteristic of minimalism.
• Discuss how ostinato interacts with the concept of phasing in minimalist music.
  • Ostinato interacts with phasing by serving as a consistent anchor point that can be manipulated over time. In minimalist pieces where phasing occurs, one musical line may remain fixed while another shifts gradually away from it. This creates a dynamic interplay between repetition and variation, resulting in complex textures that evolve as the listener perceives changes within the familiar framework established by the ostinato.
• Evaluate the emotional impact of ostinato in minimalist music and its effectiveness in engaging listeners.
  • The emotional impact of ostinato in minimalist music is profound, as it creates an immersive atmosphere that draws listeners into a hypnotic state. By repeating simple phrases or rhythms, composers can evoke feelings of tranquility or tension, depending on how they manipulate these elements. This effectiveness lies in its ability to engage listeners through familiarity while inviting them to explore deeper layers of complexity as variations unfold, making it a powerful tool in minimalist expression.

Related terms

Minimalism: A style of music that emphasizes simplicity, repetition, and the use of minimal materials to create intricate patterns and textures.

Repetition:

The act of repeating musical phrases or motifs to create familiarity and reinforce themes within a composition.

Phasing:

A technique where two or more musical lines play the same material but gradually shift out of sync with each other, often found in minimalist compositions.