divertimento
/dɪˌvəːtɪˈmɛntəʊ
/ /dɪˌvɛːtɪˈmɛntəʊ/noun (plural divertimenti /dɪˌvəːtɪˈmɛnti/ /dɪˌvɛːtɪˈmɛnti/ or divertimentos) Music
A light and entertaining composition, typically one in the form of a suite for chamber orchestra.A cassation is akin to a divertimento; Mozart composed a few early in his career, but it is a relatively unusual genre....
- Like his contemporaries, Joseph Haydn wrote very early divertimentos for string quartet.
- Prokofiev fashioned a suite of six pieces resembling a classical divertimento, but one laced with dissonances, evoking Stravinsky's Octet.
Origin
Mid 18th century (denoting a diversion or amusement): Italian, literally 'diversion'.