A cantata is a fairly short musical work for singers and instruments.
cantata in British English
(kænˈtɑːtə)
noun
a musical setting of a text, esp a religious text, consisting of arias, duets, and choruses interspersed with recitatives
Word origin
C18: from Italian, from cantare to sing, from Latin
cantata in American English
(kɑnˈtɑtə; kənˈtɑtə)
noun
a musical composition consisting of vocal solos, choruses, etc., often with instrumental accompaniment, used as a setting for a story to be sung but not acted
Word origin
It < pp. of cantare: see chant
Examples of 'cantata' in a sentence
cantata
Then the choir and instrumentalists performed the cantata.
Christianity Today (2000)
I went to the second concert, a long cantata and a short.