recitative

Recitative is a style of vocal music that approaches speech more closely than song. It is used in opera, oratorio, and cantata to advance the plot and deliver dialogue, with little or no emphasis on melodic development.

There are two main forms in the Baroque period: recitativo secco (dry recitative) and recitativo accompagnato. Secco recitative is supported by basso continuo (harpsichord, lute, and bass line) and typically moves quickly through the text with sparing melodic decoration. Accompagnato recitative employs a fuller orchestra, providing more sustained accompaniment and dramatic emphasis; sometimes the accompanied form is labeled recitativo obbligato when specific instrumental lines are indispensable.

Origin and use: Recitative developed in early 17th-century Italy, with experiments by composers such as Peri and Caccini and later refinement by Monteverdi. It became the standard means of presenting dialogue in opera, contrasting with arias that express emotion through melody. In oratorios and cantatas, recitative remains the narrative vehicle between lyric numbers. In the Classical era, the form declined somewhat as drama favored more continuous melodic flow, but it remained an integral element in many works and appears in modern performances that preserve Baroque conventions.

Characteristics: recitative features speech-like rhythm and is mostly syllabic in its setting of text, with a flexible tempo that follows the natural cadence of the words. Harmony in secco recitative is often implied rather than fully realized, while accompagnato provides defined orchestral support. The style is designed to propel the plot rather than to indulge in melodic elaboration.