cavatina

American  

[kav-uh-tee-nuh, kah-vah-tee-nah] / ˌkæv əˈti nə, ˌkɑ vɑˈti nɑ /

noun

Music.

plural

cavatine

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

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cavatina British  

/ ˌkævəˈtiːnə /

noun

1. a solo song resembling a simple aria

2. an instrumental composition reminiscent of this

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Etymology

Origin of cavatina

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

Example Sentences

After intermission he switched gears emotionally with a potent rendition of Aleko’s cavatina from the Rachmaninoff opera of the same name.

From New York Times • Mar. 23, 2015

With his robust voice, he gave a hearty, wily account of Leporello’s “Catalog Aria” from Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” and, in complete contrast, an anguished, dark performance of the title character’s cavatina from Rachmaninoff’s “Aleko.”

From New York Times • Mar. 31, 2014

After a game but flat Catalogue aria from Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” Michael Sumuel, a bass-baritone, brought smoky smolder to the moody cavatina from Rachmaninoff’s “Aleko.”

From New York Times • Mar. 19, 2012

She caps the cavatina “Una voce poco fa” with a shimmering high C that she holds for a full 12 seconds before dipping down to end the phrase.

From New York Times • Mar. 25, 2011

Once, as the violin wailed out a passionate, despairing, yet exquisitely sweet passage of the Raff cavatina Falconer was playing, she heard Drake sigh.

From Nell, of Shorne Mills or, One Heart's Burden by Garvice, Charles