Get to know Recitative better with 10+ real example sentences, the meaning and synonyms like passage.
Recitative meaning
dialogue, in an opera etc, that, rather than being sung as an aria, is reproduced with the rhythms of normal speech, often with simple musical accompaniment or harpsichord continuo, serving to expound the plot.
Synonyms of Recitative
Using Recitative
- The main meaning on this page is: dialogue, in an opera etc, that, rather than being sung as an aria, is reproduced with the rhythms of normal speech, often with simple musical accompaniment or harpsichord continuo, serving to expound the plot.
- Useful related words include: passage, musical passage.
- In the example corpus, recitative often appears in combinations such as: recitative and, of recitative, ii recitative.
Context around Recitative
- Average sentence length in these examples: 23.1 words
- Position in the sentence: 2 start, 10 middle, 5 end
- Sentence types: 17 statements, 0 questions, 0 exclamations
Corpus analysis for Recitative
- In this selection, "recitative" usually appears in the middle of the sentence. The average example has 23.1 words, and this corpus slice is mostly made up of statements.
- Around the word, elvira, static, unison, thanks, song and interspersed stand out and add context to how "recitative" is used.
- Recognizable usage signals include act ii recitative and patter and a static recitative like vocal. That gives this page its own corpus information beyond isolated example sentences.
- By corpus frequency, "recitative" sits close to words such as aav, abdicating and abductor, which helps place it inside the broader word index.
Example types with recitative
The same corpus examples are grouped by length and sentence type, making it easier to see the contexts in which the word appears:
This is displayed by Hasse through extended recitative passages. (9 words)
Even later passage work is dramatic and recitative-like, rather than merely virtuosic. (13 words)
In addition, he even seems to have striven for lively, antiphonal, unison recitative". (13 words)
Ernani replies that he loves Elvira (Recitative: "Thanks, dear friends"; Cavatina: Come rugiada al cespite / "As the flower turns to the sun"), who is about to be married against her will to old Gomez de Silva (O tu che l'alma adora). (42 words)
The G. Schirmer vocal score published in America agreed with the revised Chappell score, except that it also included Robin's Act II recitative and patter song "Henceforth all the crimes" and both versions of the Act II finale. (39 words)
The Queen of the Night appears and promises Tamino that Pamina will be his if he rescues her from Sarastro (Recitative and aria: " O zittre nicht, mein lieber Sohn " / Oh, tremble not, my dear son!). (35 words)
Example sentences (17)
At one point in the opera, the rival divas Carmen Ghia and Donna Ribalda break character in the middle of a recitative to hold a conversation (still in recitative) about their singing careers.
Ernani replies that he loves Elvira (Recitative: "Thanks, dear friends"; Cavatina: Come rugiada al cespite / "As the flower turns to the sun"), who is about to be married against her will to old Gomez de Silva (O tu che l'alma adora).
Even in the passages linking these "Grand Tunes", Puccini maintains a strong degree of lyricism and only rarely resorts to recitative.
Even later passage work is dramatic and recitative-like, rather than merely virtuosic.
His other vocal music from that period shows Debussy's influence, in what Kelly describes as "a static, recitative-like vocal style", prominent piano parts and rhythmic flexibility.
In addition, he even seems to have striven for lively, antiphonal, unison recitative".
In it, Verdi blurs the distinction between the aria and recitative as it never before was, leading the opera to be "an unending string of duets".
Luciani" is about Pope John Paul I. * Patti Smith 's recitative song "Wave" is about Luciani, and her Wave album is dedicated to him.
Lully's operas also show a concern for expressive recitative which matched the contours of the French language.
None of these four recordings include Robin's Act II recitative and patter song.
Opera seria was elevated in tone and highly stylised in form, usually consisting of secco recitative interspersed with long da capo arias.
Rigoletto is one of, if not the earliest operas to abandon the traditional distinction between the sung aria, and the more speech-like recitative.
Short passages of recitative are, however, sometimes used in operetta, especially as an introduction to a song.
The captive, Alamiro, who adores Belisarius, refuses to leave him (Recitative and duet: Che veggio!..
The G. Schirmer vocal score published in America agreed with the revised Chappell score, except that it also included Robin's Act II recitative and patter song "Henceforth all the crimes" and both versions of the Act II finale.
The Queen of the Night appears and promises Tamino that Pamina will be his if he rescues her from Sarastro (Recitative and aria: " O zittre nicht, mein lieber Sohn " / Oh, tremble not, my dear son!).
This is displayed by Hasse through extended recitative passages.
Common combinations with recitative
These word pairs occur most frequently in English texts:
- recitative and 4×
- of recitative 2×
- ii recitative 2×