Ostinato < PREMIUM · BLUEPRINT >

A persistent percussive or rhythmic pattern that does not necessarily change pitch, often used in educational settings to develop a student's sense of timing.

The most famous historical form of ostinato is the , or "ground bass." Here, a short melody in the lowest voice (bass) repeats endlessly while the upper voices change harmony, rhythm, and melody. ostinato

For composers and songwriters, the ostinato is a powerful but dangerous tool. Too little repetition, and it fails to hypnotize. Too much, and it becomes boring. Here are four rules of thumb: A persistent percussive or rhythmic pattern that does

The ostinato became the secret weapon of suspense and action. Bernard Herrmann’s screeching violins in the shower scene of Psycho —the famous "murder music"—is a relentless, razor-sharp ostinato. John Williams’s theme for Jaws is a simple two-note alternating ostinato that accelerates, turning a calm ocean into a monster’s hunting ground. Hans Zimmer’s Inception score (“Time”) builds on a slow, repeating piano chord progression that swells to overwhelming power. Too little repetition, and it fails to hypnotize

A repeating sequence of notes, such as the haunting cello line in the slow movement of certain symphonic works.