What is an ostinato?

• A. A one-time motif
• B. A fast tempo marking
• C. A type of dynamic marking
• D. A repeating musical pattern

Answer: (D)

An ostinato is a short musical figure— melodic or rhythmic—that repeats persistently across a section or the whole piece. The key idea is repetition: that figure acts as a repeating anchor or backbone, providing a sense of momentum while other melodies or harmonies move above or around it. It isn’t a one-time motif; instead, it stays present and recurring, sometimes for many bars or even the entire composition. You might hear a looping bass line, a recurring drum pattern, or a short melodic fragment that keeps returning. This distinguishes it from tempo or dynamic markings, which tell you how fast to go or how loudly to play, rather than what pattern to repeat. The effect of an ostinato is to create groove, structure, and a hypnotic feel through its ongoing repetition.