canzonetta

Etymology

From Italian canzonetta, from canzone (“song”) + -etta (“-ette: forming diminutives”), from Latin cantiō. Doublet of canzonet. Cf. canzone.

noun

  1. A style of popular Italian secular vocal composition which originated around 1560, or a piece composed in this style“In the canzonetta, Mr. McDuffie summoned a subtle glow, which was well matched by flute and clarinet soloists.”