Ostinato

An ostinato (Latin obstinatus, stubborn, obstinate ) in music is a constantly repeating musical figure, be it a melody, a certain rhythm ( see, eg, Boléro by Maurice Ravel ) or another musical element.

The principle of the ostinato, there probably is making music ever since, first sources date back to the Middle Ages. The ostinato was especially in the 17-18. Century, the so-called basso age, executed mainly by the bass ( basso ostinato ) and witnessed after it was advised as an artistic medium, especially during the classical period into oblivion in the 19th century a small renaissance.

A harmonic ostinato is a chord sequence that is repeated continuously.

In jazz we call such ostinati Vamps, in rock music is called from the reef.

The electromechanical or electronic implementation of an ostinato is also called a loop.