cantata

[ kuhn-tah-tuh ]

noun

1. a choral composition, either sacred and resembling a short oratorio or secular, as a lyric drama set to music but not to be acted.
2. a metrical narrative set to recitative or alternate recitative and air, usually for a single voice accompanied by one or more instruments.

cantata

/ kænˈtɑːtə /

noun

1. a musical setting of a text, esp a religious text, consisting of arias, duets, and choruses interspersed with recitatives

cantata

1. A musical composition for voice and instruments and including choruses, solos, and recitatives .

Word History and Origins

Origin of cantata¹

1715–25; < Italian, equivalent to cant ( are ) to sing ( cant ¹ ) + -ata -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cantata¹

C18: from Italian, from cantare to sing, from Latin

Example Sentences

The baritone Roderick Williams joined them for cantatas by Bach and Telemann.

From New York Times

The 12-hour performance includes three movements: an hourlong live chamber music performance; a 10-hour immersive experience with prerecorded compositions, intermittent live music and projections; and an hourlong cantata.

From Los Angeles Times

You might have wondered, though, what else she could do with her fabulous instrument; the role is not a cantata but an emotional slalom that had ended in wipeouts for many before her.

From New York Times

In the 1940s Foss had already done two cantatas for voice and orchestra, “Song of Anguish” and “Song of Songs,” that were also on biblical texts.

From New York Times

But the biggest problem in “Life,” which is set to the Vivaldi cantata Gloria, is that there were more false endings than actual beginnings.

From New York Times

Related Words

• arrangement
• concerto
• drama
• melody
• music
• piece
• poetry
• setup
• symphony
• theme
• tune
• writing