Sometimes the most revealing part of a piece is the figure that keeps returning beneath everything else. An ostinato is a persistent repeated pattern. It may be rhythmic, melodic or combine both, giving the ear something recognisable while the surrounding music develops.
In its teaching material, BBC Ten Pieces introduces ostinato through repeating rhythmic patterns. You do not need to read a score to begin hearing the effect. Start by following one repeated part for a few cycles.
Listen twice, with a different job each time
On the first listen, choose a short section and follow the recurring figure. Notice where it starts and how long it takes to return. Does it continue without interruption, or does a gap make its return more noticeable?
On the second listen, keep that pattern in mind but shift attention to the music above it. A new instrument, a stronger dynamic or a changed harmony can make the same figure feel different. Repetition does not mean the whole passage remains still.
Try a small rhythm experiment
Tap a comfortable four-beat pulse. Over repeated groups of four, clap on beats one and three, leaving the other beats quiet. Keep that pattern stable while another person speaks a short phrase at different points in the cycle.
This is an original listening exercise, not an excerpt from a named composition. Notice how the spoken phrase changes your attention even though the clapping remains the same. Stop if the pulse becomes confused, then restart slowly.
When describing a recording, be specific: “The low repeating figure continues while the upper instruments grow louder” tells another listener where to direct attention. Calling every memorable repeated idea an ostinato is less useful than explaining what repeats, for how long and what changes around it.
The next time a passage builds intensity without an obvious new tune, follow the part that stays. It may be providing the reference against which the change becomes audible.