ballett

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ballett [ballet]. A form of madrigal orig. so called because the performers also danced to the tune. Thought to have been invented by the It. 16th-cent. composer Gastoldi who in 1591 pubd. balletti a cinque voci with instructions for dancing and instr. accs. In Eng. the ballett was popularized by Morley and Weelkes, whose first colls. were pubd. respectively in 1595 and 1598. Balletts differ from madrigals in their regular rhythm and (an indispensable feature) the singing of ‘fal-lal-la’ between the clauses.