Which term best describes a repeated musical phrase or rhythm?

An ostinato is a musical term that refers to a repeated phrase or rhythm that persists throughout a piece or a section of music. This device can create a sense of unity and continuity, allowing other musical lines or themes to interact with or develop over it. In many compositions across various genres, an ostinato can be instrumental or vocal, providing a foundational element that supports more complex melodies or harmonies built around it. By establishing this repetitive phrase, composers can also evoke different emotional responses or drive the music forward.

Counterpoint refers to the relationship between two or more independent melodic lines, rather than a repeated phrase. A round is a specific type of canon where a melody is sung in staggered entrances, creating harmonies as the voices overlap, but it does not inherently emphasize a single repeated phrase. Choral blend refers to the quality of voices unifying in tone and timbre within a choir, which is more about the sound created than a repeated musical motif. Therefore, the description of a repeated musical phrase or rhythm aligns most accurately with the concept of ostinato.