A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Ochetto

by William Smyth Rockstro

OCHETTO (Lat. Ochetus; Fr. Hoquet; Old Eng. Hocket). A curious device in mediæval Discant, the sole merit of which consisted in interrupting one or more Voice parts—generally including the Tenor—by meaningless rests, so introduced as to produce an effect analogous to that of the hiccough—whence the origin of the word. [See Hocket.] It seems to have made its first appearance in the Sæcular Music of the 13th century; but no long time elapsed before it was introduced into the Discant sung upon Ecclesiastical Plain Chaunt, on which account it was severely condemned in the Decretal issued by Pope John XXII, in 1322. The following specimen is from a Sæcular Song of the 14th century, preserved in MS. at Cambrai, and printed in extenso in Coussemaker's 'Histoire de l'Harmonie au Moyen Age' (Paris, 1852).

etc.

In the latter half of the 14th century the popularity of the Ochetus began rapidly to wane; and in the 15th it was so far forgotten that Joannes Tinctoris does not even think it necessary to mention it in his 'Diffinitorum Terminorum Musicorum.'

But though the Ochetus so soon fell into disrepute as a contrapuntal device, its value, as a means of dramatic expression, has been recognised, by Composers of all ages, with the happiest possible result. An early instance of its appearance, as an aid to expression, will be found in Orazio Vecchi's Motet, 'Velocitur exaudi me' (Venice, 1590), where it is employed, with touching pathos, at the words defecit spiritus meus.

etc. As instances of its power in the hands of our greatest Operatic Composers, we need only mention the death-scenes of Handel's Acis, the Commendatore in 'Don Giovanni,' and Caspar in 'Der Freischütz.'

[ W. S. R. ]