Dictionary of musical terms. Sing or talk? What is recitative in music How did a new form emerge

Rod singer whose recitation. Reproduces the rhythmic and intonational pattern of natural speech. The textual main recitative can be either poetry or prose.

There are different types of recitative:

• dry (secco) and accompanied (accompagnato);
• measured (a tempo);
• melodious (same as arioso).

In all types of recitative, correct, meaningful recitation is of great importance.

In the vocal music of the baroque and the Viennese classics, the recitatives secco and accompagnato were used, later different types of recitative were often mixed.

In operas and oratorios, the recitative is usually accompanied by dry accompaniment and functions as links between arias. At the same time, the dramatic action is reflected in the recitatives, and the emotional reaction of the characters to it is reflected in the arias.

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✪ Recitative? What is this?

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Dry recitative

The singer sings to the accompaniment of basso continuo, which is usually realized as a sequence of chords (without ornamentation and melodic figures) and does not express mood, but only serves to indicate the singer's tonality and to emphasize punctuation marks. Chords are taken mainly where there is a break in the recitative. Sometimes, in the interval between two phrases that have a break, a short ritornello is inserted with a figure expressing the mood. Such a recitative has very little melodic content. Only one sound is required for each syllable of the text. The form of such a recitative is indefinite and is completely dependent on the text. The singer sings it freely, not in tempo.

recitative accompagnato

Unlike dry recitative, where the singer is accompanied only by the basso continuo part (on the organ, harpsichord, etc.), in the accompagnato recitative (Italian accompagnato, literally “with accompaniment”), instruments with written parts are used (up to the whole orchestra). This type of recitative was developed in the high baroque (passions of J.S. Bach) and in the music of the classicism era (operas by K.F. Gluck, A. Salieri, etc.).

measured recitative

Measured recitative (a tempo) happens in different sizes - 4/4, 3/4, etc. While singing recitative, which is not particularly rich in melody, the accompaniment goes all the way, in the form of chords sustained or played by tremolo. There is no conducted motive, that is, a drawing, in such an accompaniment. The form is indefinite, the alternation of keys is arbitrary. There is one note per syllable. Such a recitative is performed in tempo and conducted entirely.

Singing recitative

Singing recitative (ariose singing) is the most developed form of recitative. The vocal part is distinguished by melodic content. One syllable of a word can sometimes have two or more sounds. Like the measured one, this recitative is not constrained by the modulation plan. The form is mostly free. The musical content of the accompaniment, in comparison with the previous recitatives, is richer both in harmonic and rhythmic terms; a figure (motive) is carried in it.

Singing that has roundness and great completeness, but lacks a knee-length warehouse, is called

Such as opera, operetta, musical. Often small musical forms cannot do without it. And it happens that he completely replaces the usual understanding of music, becoming the head of a musical work. What is recitative and what role does it play in music, we find out in this article.

concept

Recitative is a vocal form in music that is not subject to rhythm and melody. It can sound with the presence of an accompaniment or, in fact, it sounds like in the middle of a general musical setting. To understand what recitative is in music, it is necessary to analyze in more detail the musical works in which this element is present.

The recitative cannot be attributed to the usual recitation of a verse, since this passage does not always contain 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 by melodic techniques.

How a new form was born

If we talk about the origins, they go deep into antiquity. Epic and ritual songs, folk songs and nursery rhymes were often nothing more than recitative. The professional music of antiquity was also rich in conversational moments. First of all, this applied to sacred music: psalms, liturgies.

However, the very concept of what recitative is was born with the advent of the opera genre. Its first manifestations were a melodious recitation. Actually, the early recitative was intended to revive the ancient tragedy with its manner of melodious recitation.

Over time, melody lost its meaning, and by the end of the 17th century, recitative acquired a clear outline, firmly entrenched in vocal music as an independent genre.

What are recitatives

Despite the fact that 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 piece of music.

If the recitative piece does not have a rhyme and a clear rhythm, then it is considered dry secco. It is pronounced with a meager accompaniment of staccato 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 is performed accompanied by 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 refer to the definition of musical form. Recitative singing simply may not have it. The free form and manner of performance will indicate the presence of a melodious recitative or arioso.

Where do recitatives live

The colloquial form found its most frequent use in classical opera music. It was the vocal genre that opened up unlimited possibilities for the development of recitative. Its main purpose in the opera was to oppose the general musical content and create dramatic accents. It can be performed on stage by a single vocalist, an ensemble, or even a choir.

This genre found great application in the works of J.S. Bach. It was especially pronounced in the Passion according to John. It must be said that J.S. Bach surpassed all his contemporaries in this sense. The favorite dramatic technique was the recitative for K.V. Gluck and W.A. Mozart.

In Russian opera music, recitative appeared somewhat later. It manifested itself most clearly in the music of A.S. Dargomyzhsky, M.P. Mussorgsky, N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov. P.I. Tchaikovsky especially skillfully 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 recitative.

Recitative: examples in contemporary music

Remember, in the film “Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath”, the main characters perform “The Ballad of a Smoky Carriage” by A.S. Kochetkov:

How painful, dear, how strange

Akin to the earth, intertwined with branches,

How painful, dear, how strange

Split in two under the saw.

If you think recitative songs are a phenomenon exclusive to classical music, try to find them in modern times. To do this, it is enough to imagine the recitation of poetry or prose, accompanied by music.

The recitative presented above is considered dry, since it does not obey instrumental accompaniment.

Rap and hip-hop can be considered the most striking example of measured recitative in modern times. It is these areas of modern music that have opened up new facets and possibilities of recitative.

It is impossible to imagine such a genre of modern music as rock opera without recitative singing. As in the classical version of the opera, singing from time to time turns into spoken language.

Even an experienced musician can get confused in the variety and forms. But now you know what recitative is, and you won’t confuse it with anything.

Ballet(French ballet from Italian ballo - dance, dance) - a large musical-, in which the main artistic means is dance, as well as pantomime, presented on the theater stage in a picturesque decorative design, accompanied by orchestral music. Ballet in the form of independent dance scenes is sometimes part of.

Sideshow(lat. intermedia - located in the middle) - 1. A small musical, placed between the more important parts of a large work. 2. Inserted or in a major theatrical work, suspending the development of the action and not directly related to it. 3. Connecting between two performances in, a passing episode in an instrumental piece in general.

Intermezzo(it. intermezzo - pause, intermission) - linking more important sections; also the name of separate, mainly instrumental, pieces of various nature and content.

Introduction(lat. introductio - introduction) - 1. A small opera house, directly putting into action. 2. The initial section of any, which has its own and the nature of the music.

Kant(from lat. cantus - singing) - in Russian, Ukrainian and Polish music of the 17th-18th centuries, lyrical songs for a three-part choir without accompaniment; in the era of Peter I, greeting chants of a cheerful march-like (see) character, performed on the occasion of official celebrations, spread.

Koda(it. coda - tail, end) - the final section of a musical work, usually of an energetic, impetuous nature, asserting its main idea, the dominant image.

Coloratura(it. coloratura - coloring, decoration) - coloring, varying the melody with a variety of flexible, moving passages, decorations.

Coloring(from lat. color - color) in music - the predominant emotional coloring of an episode, achieved by using various,, and other expressive means.

Carol- the general name of Slavic folk rituals of pagan origin associated with the celebration of Christmas (new year's eve).

banknote(fr. coupure - clipping, reduction) - reduction of a piece of music by removing, skipping any, in -, or.

Lezginka- a dance common among the peoples of the Caucasus, temperamental, impetuous; size 2/4 or 6/8.

Motive(from it. motivo - reason, motivation, and lat. motus - movement) - 1. Part, which has an independent expressive meaning; a group of sounds is a melody united around one accent - stress. 2. In the common sense - a melody, a melody.

Nocturne(fr. nocturne - night) - the name of a relatively small instrumental (rarely -) lyrical-contemplative character with an expressive melodious character that spread in the 19th century.

But no(from lat. nonus - ninth) - a relatively rare type of opera or chamber music for nine participants.

Oh yeah(Greek ode) - the name of a musical work borrowed from literature (more often -) of a solemn laudatory character.

Octet(from lat. octo - eight) - eight participants.

Parody(Greek parodià, from para - against and ode - song, singing, letters, singing vice versa) - imitation for the purpose of distortion, ridicule.

prelude, prelude(from Latin prae - before and ludus - game) - 1. Introduction, introduction to a piece or a completed musical,, etc. 2. A common name for small instrumental pieces of various content, character and structure.

Premiere- the first performance, at the theater; the first public performance of a musical work (applies to major works only).

buffoons- carriers of Russian folk art in the XI-XVII centuries, itinerant actors, musicians and dancers.

Sonata Allegro- the form in which the first parts of the sonata are written and, - sustained in fast (allegro). The sonata allegro form consists of three large sections: exposition, development and reprise. The exposition is a presentation of two central, contrasting musical images created in the main and side; development-