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Obbligato

2 stages from Italian to English.

Today it means an essential instrumental part accompanying a melody, not to be omitted
1
Stage 1 of 2
obbligato
Italian · 1700s
"obligatory, required"
literally obligatory, an essential accompanying instrumental part
2
Stage 2 of 2
obbligato
English · 1730s
"an essential accompanying instrumental part"
adopted directly for an essential instrumental accompaniment
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