recitativo

[ res-i-tuh-tee-voh; Italian re-chee-tah-tee-vaw ]

noun

, Music.

, plural rec·i·ta·ti·vos, rec·i·ta·ti·vi [res-i-t, uh, -, tee, -vee, r, e-chee-tah-, tee, -vee],

1. recitative ².

Word History and Origins

Origin of recitativo¹

Borrowed into English from Italian around 1610–20

Example Sentences

The first interruption, indeed, was a recitativo with chords, followed by a verse from the leading treble.

From Project Gutenberg

Of course you know that there is no singing in it, but merely recitation, to which the music is a sort of obligato recitativo.

From Project Gutenberg

The recitativo stromentato, or accompanied recitative, was only used to emphasise situations of special importance.

From Project Gutenberg

The recitativo secco was accompanied by the harpsichord, at which the composer himself presided.

From Project Gutenberg

The most important of all these improvements was the abandonment of recitativo secco.

From Project Gutenberg