Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun obbligato

2 senses of obbligato

Sense 1
obbligato, obligato -- (a persistent but subordinate motif)
       => motif, motive -- (a theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music)

Sense 2
obbligato, obligato -- (a part of the score that must be performed without change or omission)
       => section, subdivision -- (a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical); "he always turns first to the business section"; "the history of this work is discussed in the next section")