recitative

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Definitions (11)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. adjective Of, relating to, or having the character of a recital or recitation.
  2. noun A style used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas in which the text is declaimed in the rhythm of natural speech with slight melodic variation and little orchestral accompaniment.
  3. noun A passage rendered in this style.

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Examples (50)

  • Another recitative was proposed by Francueil and Jelyotte, to which I consented; but refused at the same time to have anything to do with it myself When everything was ready and the day of performance fixed, a proposition was made me to go to Fontainebleau, that I might at least be at the last rehearsal. —  The Confessions of J. J. Rousseau, Entire
  • While there is a great deal of recitative, there are also many numbers merely joined together in the Tannhaeuser manner. —  Wagner
  • The King then kneels down and begins the prayer In Elettra's recitative, after the underground voice has spoken, there ought to be marked exeunt. —  The Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Vol.1.
  • The Farewell I have already compared with that at the end of Lohengrin : the voice part is at times in Wagner's own style of song-recitative, but a great deal of it is sheer simple melody. —  Richard Wagner
  • At best his song-recitative is sublime; at worst it is insufferably tedious. —  Richard Wagner
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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Italian recitativo, from recitare, to recite, from Latin recitāre; see recite.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from French récitatif, n., from Italian recitativo, n., a recitative in music; as recite + -ative.
 

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/rɛsɪtæˈtiv/
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