(Musique) Sorte de chant (qui n'est pas assujetti ŕ la mesure et qui doit être débité d'une manière plus ou moins soutenue) permettant de relier des 'morceaux de bravoure' : les grands airs.
ETYM Italian recitativo, or French récitatif. Related to Recite.
A vocal passage of narrative text that a singer delivers with natural rhythms of speech.
Speechlike declamatory song in opera, oratorio, etc.
In opera and oratorio, sung narration partly modeled on the rhythms and inflections of natural speech. It is usually sparingly accompanied by harpsichord or organ.