Recitative singing is found in any major piece of music, such as opera, operetta, musical. Often small musical forms are not complete without it. And it happens that he completely displaces the usual understanding of music, becoming the head of a piece of music. What is recitative and what role does it play in music, we find out in this article.
The concept
Recitative is a vocal form in music that is not subject to rhythm and melody. It may sound with accompaniment or a cappella. In fact, it sounds like colloquial speech among the general musical setting. To understand what recitative is in music, it is necessary to analyze music pieces in which this element is present in more detail.
Recitative can not be attributed to the usual recitation of the verse, because in this passage is not always present rhyme. If we consider recitative as a means of expressiveness, then it is he who often reflects the emotional state of the hero and the main experiences that cannot be expressed in melodic tricks.
How the new form was born
If we talk about the origins, then they go deep into antiquity. Epic and ritual songs, folk songs and nursery rhymes often represented nothing more than a recitative. Professional music of antiquity was also rich in conversational moments. First of all, this applied to sacred music: psalms, liturgies.
However, the very notion of what recitative was born with the advent of the opera genre. Its first manifestations were a humorous recitation. Actually, the early recitative was called to revive the ancient tragedy with its manner of singing recitation.
Over time, melody lost its meaning, and by the end of the 17th century the recitative acquired a clear outline, firmly entrenched in vocal music as an independent genre.
What are recitatives
Despite the fact that the recitative does not obey the generally accepted laws of music, rhythm and melody, there are still rules that allow you to harmoniously include this genre in a musical work.
If a recitative piece does not have a rhyme and a clear rhythm, then it is considered a dry secco. It is pronounced with scanty accompaniment of jerky chords. The accompaniment in this case serves to enhance the dramatic effect.
When a recitative is endowed with a rhyme or just a clear rhythm, then it is called measured a tempo and performed with an orchestra.
It also happens that this genre is framed by a melodic line. In order to understand what recitative is in this case, one should turn to the definition of musical form. Recitative singing simply may not have it. Free form and manner of performance will indicate the presence of a melodious recitative or arioso.
Where do recitatives live?
The most common use of colloquial form found in classical opera music. It was the drama of this vocal genre that opened up unlimited possibilities for the development of recitative. His main purpose in the opera was to contrast the general musical content and the creation of dramatic accents. On stage, it can be performed by one vocalist, ensemble or even a choir.
This genre was widely used in the works of I.S.Bach. He manifested himself particularly vividly in The Passion According to John. I must say, in this sense, JS Bach surpassed all his contemporaries. A recitative for K.V.Gluck and V.A.Mozart became a favorite dramatic technique.
In Russian opera music, recitative appeared a little later. It was most clearly manifested in the music of A.S. Dargomyzhsky, M.P. Musorgsky, N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov. P.I. Tchaikovsky especially masterfully used the form of arioso. As for the Soviet classics, S. S. Prokofiev and D. D. Shostakovich made a special contribution to the development of the recitative.
Recitative: examples in modern music
Remember, in the film “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath”, the main characters perform “The Ballad of a Smoked Wagon” by A. S. Kochetkov:
How painful, honey, how strange
Related in the ground, intertwined branches
How painful, honey, how strange
Bifurcate under the saw.
If you think that recitative songs are a phenomenon peculiar only to classical music, try to find them in modern times. To do this, just imagine a recitation of poetry or prose, accompanied by music.
The above recitative is considered dry, since it does not obey the instrumental accompaniment.
The most striking example of measured recitative in our time can be considered rap and hip-hop. It is these areas of modern music that have opened up new facets and possibilities of recitative.
It is impossible to imagine without recitative singing such a genre of modern music as a rock opera. As in the classical opera version, singing from time to time switches to colloquial speech.
In the variety of musical genres and forms, even an experienced musician can get confused. But now you know what recitative is, and you won’t confuse it with anything.