recitative

¹ American  

[res-i-tey-tiv, ri-sahy-tuh-] / ˈrɛs ɪˌteɪ tɪv, rɪˈsaɪ tə- /

adjective

1. pertaining to or of the nature of recital.

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recitative ² American  

[res-i-tuh-teev] / ˌrɛs ɪ təˈtiv /

Also recitatif

adjective

1. of the nature of or resembling recitation or declamation.

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noun

1. a style of vocal music intermediate between speaking and singing.

2. a passage, part, or piece in this style.

recitative ¹ British  

/ ˌrɛsɪtəˈtiːv /

noun

1. a passage in a musical composition, esp the narrative parts in an oratorio, set for one voice with either continuo accompaniment only or full accompaniment, reflecting the natural rhythms of speech

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recitative ² British  

/ rɪˈsaɪtətɪv /

adjective

1. of or relating to recital

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recitative Cultural  

1. A part of a cantata, opera, or oratorio in which singers converse, describe action, or declaim. It moves the action forward between the high musical moments. Recitatives are distinguished from arias, which are more expressive and musically more elaborate. Recitatives usually have only one syllable of text for each note of music, and the accompaniment by instruments is often very simple.

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Etymology

Origin of recitative¹

First recorded in 1855–60; recite + -ative

Origin of recitative²

From the Italian word recitativo, dating back to 1635–45; recite, -ive

Explanation

Recitative is a kind of music with rhythms that sound like regular speaking. You'll usually hear recitative in opera. Most classical operas are a mix of arias (melodic, expressive songs) and recitatives, which are meant to move the plot along or fill in information in the story. While the arias are the most beautiful parts of an opera, recitatives are much less memorable. The word comes from the Italian recitativo, and goes back to the Latin recitare, "read aloud."

Example Sentences

The vocal style is lyrical yet speech-like — not exactly recitative, nor song, nor sung speech, but an amalgam of all three.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2023

The Met is doing it in Italian and replacing the dialogue with sung recitative.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 21, 2022

Her viola — starkly expressive in the recitative, rich and resonant in the song and dazzlingly virtuosic in the variations — might have been a superhuman mezzo-soprano.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 12, 2022

Its centerpiece “Pastoral Symphony” was followed by a recitative punctuated by trumpeters William Gerlach and Matthew Barker from the balcony, and a spellbindingly highflying air, masterfully shaped by Waddington.

From Washington Post • Dec. 17, 2021

Nobody but Uncle Jack, perhaps, who sometimes embarrassed her unmercifully in front of company with a tinkling recitative of her childhood felonies.

From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee