ballata

[ buh-lah-tuh ]

/ bəˈlɑ tə /

a 14th-century Italian verse form composed of stanzas beginning and ending with a refrain, often set to music and accompanied by dancing.

Origin of ballata

1755–65; < Italian < Old Provençal balada ballad

Rossetti's translation of the ripresa and second stanza of the Ballata Perch'i' no spero di tornar giammai.

The Story of Florence |Edmund G. Gardner
The third was probably intended to continue this subject, and the fourth was destined to the laws of the ballata and sonetto.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 9 |Various
There are also choral passages which suggest the existence of the frottola, the carnival song and the ballata.

Some Forerunners of Italian Opera |William James Henderson
It will be noticed that the Maggio is built, so far as rhymes go, on the same system as Poliziano's Ballata.

Sketches and Studies in Italy and Greece, Second Series |John Addington Symonds

But soon, taking up her ballata afresh, she proceeded with still greater vehemence.

Columba |Prosper Merimee