cavatina

[ kav-uh-tee-nuh; Italian kah-vah-tee-nah ]

noun

, Music.

, plural cav·a·ti·ne [kav-, uh, -, tee, -ney, kah-vah-, tee, -ne].

1. a simple song or melody, properly one without a second part or a repeat; an air.

cavatina

/ ˌkævəˈtiːnə /

noun

1. a solo song resembling a simple aria
2. an instrumental composition reminiscent of this

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavatina¹

1830–40; < Italian, equivalent to cavat ( a ) song (literally, something drawn out, noun use of feminine of cavata < Latin cavātus hollowed out, hollow; cave, -ate ¹ ) + -ina -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cavatina¹

C19: from Italian

Example Sentences

Drucker brought exquisite lyricism to the quartet’s most recognizable fifth movement, “Cavatina.”

From Washington Post

For both, he put together a retrospective of some of his personal favorite pieces spanning his career from his first singing lessons to his time at the national opera, including “Papageno” from “The Magic Flute” and “Cavatina Figaro” from the “The Barber of Seville.”

From Seattle Times

Especially in our current climate of upheaval and uncertainty, I choose the Cavatina from the late Op.

From New York Times

Proof: a Cavatina that sings with divinity and yet with humanity; that neither wallows in beauty nor looks the other way; that, put frankly, is eight perfect minutes.

From New York Times

The Cavatina of Opus 130 is steeped in unaffected Old World style, with throaty portamento slides from note to note.

From The New Yorker