What does recitative mean in opera?

recitative, style of monody (accompanied solo song) that emphasizes and indeed imitates the rhythms and accents of spoken language, rather than melody or musical motives.

What is the definition of a recitative?

Definition of recitative 1 : a rhythmically free vocal style that imitates the natural inflections of speech and that is used for dialogue and narrative in operas and oratorios also : a passage to be delivered in this style. 2 : recitation sense 2.

Is recitative part of an opera?

Recitative refers to the parts of an opera in which a performer imitates the rhythm of the spoken word. Recitative passages are usually sung on a repeated note or just a few notes, and there is no melody.

What is an example of recitative?

Recitative is a type of singing that is closer to speech than song. It is used in opera or oratoria to move the story along. An example of recitative from the film “Juan” based on the opera “Don Giovanni” composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1789. This type of singing contrasts with aria.

What are two types of recitative?

The two styles of recitative are the dry (secco) style and the accompanied (accompagnato) or measured recitative (recitative misurato or stromentato) style.

What are the characteristics of a recitative?

recitative, style of monody (accompanied solo song) that emphasizes and indeed imitates the rhythms and accents of spoken language, rather than melody or musical motives. Modeled on oratory, recitative developed in the late 1500s in opposition to the polyphonic, or many-voiced, style of 16th-century choral music.

Why were Castratos important and unique in Baroque opera?

The unique tone quality of the voice, coupled with the ability of the intensively trained singers to execute extremely difficult florid vocal passages, made the castrati the rage of opera audiences and contributed to the spread of Italian opera.

What is the purpose of recitative in an opera?

The Phantom of the Opera. M. January 26,1988. 13,370.

  • Chicago (1996 revival) M. November 14,1996. 9,692.
  • The Lion King. M. November 13,1997. 9,302.
  • Cats. M. October 7,1982. September 10,2000.
  • Wicked. M. October 30,2003. 6,836.
  • Les Misérables. M. March 12,1987. May 18,2003.
  • A Chorus Line. M. July 25,1975.
  • Oh! Calcutta! ( 1976 revival)
  • Is recitative opera action or reflection?

    regular rhythmic accompaniment musical “commentary/reflection” on “action,” dialogue of recitative usually paired: recitative, then aria, to provide musical contrast; tension-release his only opera; genre never caught on in England mythological subject: from Virgil’s Aeneid (Dido-queen of Carthage, N. Africa, Aeneas, king of defeated Trojans)

    What is the major difference between aria and recitative?

    ELEMENT.

  • Primary Associated Phrases.
  • Rhythm:
  • Dynamics:
  • Melody:
  • Concord:
  • Tone shade:
  • Texture:
  • What is recitative arioso in an opera?

    As nouns the difference between recitative and arioso. is that recitative is (music) 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 while arioso is (music) a musical style, in opera