tonadilla

noun

to·​na·​di·​lla

ˌtōnəˈdē(y)ə,

-ēlyə

plural -s

: a short Spanish scenic intermezzo of the 18th century written for a few soloists for performance between the acts of a serious play and in the 19th century becoming a short comic opera with soloists, a chorus, and occasionally instrumental movements

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, diminutive of tonada

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