What is recitative?
Recitative is a type of singing that is closer to speech than song. It is used in opera or oratoria to move the story along.
An example of recitative from the film "Juan" based on the opera "Don Giovanni" composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1789.
This type of singing contrasts with aria.
In an aria, the vocal performance is focused on the melody, and the instrumentation accompanies this, sometimes dramatically.
In recitative, the vocals focus on the free rhythm of the words, and the accompaniment is quite minimal, allowing the story to be told without distraction.
Key features
Melody and harmony
The melody is not usually obvious - the music takes second place, letting the speech-like vocal take the lead.
Rhythm and tempo
Sung in a free rhythm that is similar to how the words might be spoken.
Instruments
Accompaniment is kept simple usually only involving a few instruments.
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