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An essential instrumental part that cannot be omitted — often a prominent solo line accompanying a vocal melody.
An obbligato instrument creates a dialogue with the voice or solo. Write it as a genuine countermelody — independent enough to interest on its own, but complementary to the main line. The obbligato should breathe when the voice sings and fill gaps when the voice rests.
Bach's "Erbarme dich" from the St. Matthew Passion — the solo violin obbligato weaves an anguished countermelody around the alto voice.
Obbligato is one of 228 terms in the Gradus musical dictionary, where every definition is written around how composers actually use the word.
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