1724, from Italian cantata, literally "that which is sung," past participle of cantare "to sing" (see chant (v.)).

as in composition

Music written for chorus and orchestra. Most often religious in nature.

n. A choral composition.

A poem set to music to be performed by voices and instruments, which usually has several movements: airs, recitatives, and choruses.

  The term cantata means "to be sung" (as opposed to sonata, an instrumental work which means "to be played"). A cantata is a vocal work with instrumental accompaniment. It may be [..]

(n) a musical composition for voices and orchestra based on a religious text

a work for choirs and soloists with orchestral accompaniment.

Choral or solo vocal form developed in the Baroque period based on secular or religious text, generally with several movements and instrumental ensemble accompaniment.

A composite secular vocal genre of the Baroque period. It is on a smaller scale than opera and not staged. The reform cantatas (after Neumeister's texts) consist of several movements such as aria [..]

Term applied to a 17th and 18th century multi-movement non-theatrical and non-liturgical vocal genre; subsequently used to describe large-scale vocal works in the same spirit, generally for soloists, [..]

term applied to a 17th-18th- century multi-movement non-theatrical and non-liturgical vocal genre; subsequently used to describe large-scale vocal works in the same spirit, generally for soloists, chorus and orchestra; may also be for solo voice and accompaniment. canzona:

an unstaged secular or sacred composition, with several movements, for single voice or voices (alternating aria, duet, recitative, full chorus, etc.), normally accompanied by instruments. The vocal equivalent of sonata.

A Baroque genre for voice(s) and instruments on a sacred or secular poem, including recitatives, arias, and sometimes choruses.