divertimento

views updated May 23 2018

di·ver·ti·men·to / diˌvərtəˈmentō/ • n. (pl. -men·ti / -ˈmentē/ or -men·tos) Mus. a light and entertaining composition, typically one in the form of a suite for chamber orchestra.

divertimento

views updated May 11 2018

divertimento (It.). Amusement.
1. An 18th-cent. suite of movts. of light, recreational mus., sometimes for open-air perf., for a small no. of players. Mozart wrote 25, calling them Divertimenti or sometimes serenades or cassations. In the 20th cent. composers use the term to denote a not-too-serious work.

2. Fantasia on airs from operas, etc.

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