recitatives
Opera's spoken singing
Recitatives are passages in opera, oratorio, and other vocal music where the singer delivers text in a speech-like rhythm rather than a strict melodic line.
The style mimics natural speech patterns and is typically used to advance the plot or convey dialogue between sung arias.
The opera alternates between dramatic recitatives and soaring arias.
In earlier periods, recitatives were often accompanied only by harpsichord or simple chords, though later composers gave them fuller orchestral backing.
Operatic solo piece
- librettoOpera's written words
- baroqueExcessively ornate or elaborate
- HandelBaroque composer of oratorios
- MozartEighteenth-century Austrian composer
Monteverdi · declamation · dramatic · oratorio · cantata · harpsichord · vocal · Puccini
Of speech segments
- declamatoryPompously rhetorical in style
- inflectionWord form alteration
- prosodyStudy of verse rhythm
- notationSystem of written symbols
unmeasured · word painting · natural rhythm · expressive · cadence · phrasing · articulation · dramatic pacing
Unaccompanied liturgical melody
- scripturalOf sacred writings
- biblicalOf sacred texts
- PassionPowerful consuming emotion
- evangelistZealous advocate or preacher
narrator · Bach · oratorio · sacred · Mass · Messiah · Anglican · chanting
Change from one state
- interludePause between sections
- connectiveSomething that links
- expositionSystematic explanatory presentation
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
storytelling · scene setting · narrative device · action · pacing · contrast · preparatory · theatrical
aria
Operatic solo piece
- librettoOpera's written words
- baroqueExcessively ornate or elaborate
- HandelBaroque composer of oratorios
Mozart · Monteverdi · declamation · dramatic · oratorio · cantata · harpsichord · vocal · Puccini · Verdi
syllabic
Of speech segments
- declamatoryPompously rhetorical in style
- inflectionWord form alteration
- prosodyStudy of verse rhythm
notation · unmeasured · word painting · natural rhythm · expressive · cadence · phrasing · articulation · dramatic pacing · narrative
plainchant
Unaccompanied liturgical melody
- scripturalOf sacred writings
- biblicalOf sacred texts
- PassionPowerful consuming emotion
evangelist · narrator · Bach · oratorio · sacred · Mass · Messiah · Anglican · chanting · intoning
transition
Change from one state
- interludePause between sections
- connectiveSomething that links
- expositionSystematic explanatory presentation
dialogue · storytelling · scene setting · narrative device · action · pacing · contrast · preparatory · theatrical · staging
recitativesarias
Solo vocal compositions
set pieces · melodic passages · showstoppers · bel canto · choruses