recitative

rec·i·ta·tive ¹  (rs-ttv, r-st-tv)

adj.

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

---

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.

---

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

---

recitative [ress-it-a-teev]

Noun

a narrative passage in an opera or oratorio, reflecting the natural rhythms of speech [Italian recitativo]

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