ricercar

[ ree-cher-kahr ]

noun

1. Music. a chiefly polyphonic instrumental form of the 16th and 17th centuries closely resembling the vocal motet in structure and style.
2. a composition, especially for a keyboard instrument, having this form.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ricercar¹

First recorded in 1780–90; apocopated variant of ricercare

Example Sentences

Mälkki, Strauss & Dance Principal guest conductor Susanna Mälkki leads the LA Phil in Strauss’ “An Alpine Symphony,” Bach’s Ricercar, and the U.S. premiere of Bernd Alois Zimmermann’s Concerto for cello and orchestra, “en forme de pas de trois,” featuring ellists Ben Hong, Eric Byers and Timothy Loo and dancers from Tero Saarinen Company.

From Los Angeles Times

Mälkki, Strauss & Dance Principal guest conductor Susanna Mälkki leads the LA Phil in Strauss' "An Alpine Symphony," Bach's Ricercar, and the U.S. premiere of Bernd Alois Zimmermann's concerto for cello and orchestra, "en forme de pas de trois" featuring cellist Robert deMaine and dancers from Tero Saarinen Company.

From Los Angeles Times

More systematic is “Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott: Luther and the Music of the Reformation,” two CDs of performances by Vox Luminis, from Ricercar, luxuriously packaged in a small but informative hardcover book.

From New York Times

This six-part ricercar is still, to this day, considered by musicians and composers the greatest, most complex feat of counterpoint of all time.

From Literature

But not as amazed as when the king received, a few weeks later, a written-out fugue, or ricercar, based on the supposedly impossible theme, this time in six parts.

From Literature