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; see 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

John Cage and Yves Klein: Aria and Recitative Program includes the conceptual works “Monotone Symphony” by Klein plus Cage’s “Speech.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2020

Recitative and arioso passages allow the singers to barrel through words at a tremendous clip.

From Washington Post • Jul. 12, 2015

The first, Recitative, is just that, with the violin in busy declamatory mode, punctuated by orchestra comment.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 18, 2011

The kind of natural singer whose effortlessness and grace make singing seem easy, she warmed up on the seldom-heard Recitative and Aria of Messagera from Monteverdi's Orfeo.

From Time Magazine Archive

It alternates with a Recitative, which assumes a minor key, and which seems to be its Antistrophe.

From Life of Chopin by Cook, Martha Elizabeth Duncan Walker