Preserve farewell musical setting (7)
I believe the answer is:
cantata
'musical setting' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how one could define the other.
'preserve farewell' is the wordplay.
'preserve' becomes 'can' (canning is a kind of preserving).
'farewell' becomes 'ta ta' (I've seen this in another clue).
'can'+'tata'='CANTATA'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cantata that I've seen before include "Work for voice(s) and orchestra" , "Choral item" , "Choral work" , "Setting of words to music" , "Oratorio on a sacred theme" .)