Cavatina

‖

Caˊva-ti′na

,

Noun.

[It.]

(Mus.)

Originally, a melody of simpler form than the aria; a song without a second part and a da capo; – a term now variously and vaguely used.

,

Noun.

In music, a short air, without a return or second part, which is sometimes relieved by recitative.

cavatina ‎(plural cavatinas)

(music) an operatic song in slow tempo, either complete in itself or (e.g., in Bellini and Verdi) followed by a faster, more resolute section: hence
(music) a rather slow, song-like instrumental movement; the title, for example, of a movement in Beethoven's string quartet in B flat, op. 130 (1826) and of a once-famous piece (originally for violin and piano) by Raff, and of the slow movement of Rubra's string quartet No. 2

An operatic song in slow tempo