recitative

rec·i·ta·tive ¹  (rs-ttv, r-st-tv)

adj.

Of, relating to, or having the character of a recital or recitation.

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rec·i·ta·tive ²  (rs-t-tv rch-)

n. In both senses also called recitativo.

1. 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.

2. A passage rendered in this style.

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[Italian recitativo, from recitare, to recite, from Latin recitre; see recite.]

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recitative¹

n

(Music / Classical Music) 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

[from Italian recitativo; see recite]

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recitative²

adj

of or relating to recital

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

recitative - a vocal passage of narrative text that a singer delivers with natural rhythms of speech musical passage, passage - a short section of a musical composition arioso - (music) a short recitative that is melodic but is not an aria

Translations

recitative [ˌresɪtəˈtiːv]

A. ADJ → recitativo

B. N → recitado m

recitative

n → Rezitativ nt