| Recitative is a musical form written as | | | | you to discover on which word the pitch |
| conversational speech. It's found in the operas of | | | | movements actually occur. Your brain will already |
| Purcell, Mozart and even Stravinsky, and in the | | | | be learning the structure of each phrase, even |
| church music of Bach and Handel. | | | | though you are not yet singing. "Te-MEra-RI, |
| Many young singers I have worked with think of | | | | SORti-TE FUOri di quesTO LO-CO |
| recitative in opera as the filler between the | | | | 3. Now go to the melody, and hum or "ng" your |
| important bits, and can tend to gloss over it to | | | | way through it. Look/listen/feel for the |
| get to the meaty arias or duets. But it is usually | | | | architecture or shaping of the phrase, and for the |
| there to carry the plot forwards, and can be a | | | | tonality. Don't worry if you can't play the piano or |
| highly emotional experience. | | | | put the chords in underneath what you are singing |
| Recitative can hold some terrors for the young | | | | - it's enough to understand the shape. [If you do |
| (and even the experienced) singer, as its rhythmic | | | | play the piano or can think harmonically, notice |
| and melodic structures often differ from the | | | | where the tonality or chord changes and |
| surrounding music. Singers are musicians at heart, | | | | emphasise that too]. |
| and the temptation is to start with the melody | | | | 4. Now put the words and melody together, |
| and throw the words in somehow. But in reality, | | | | taking time to emphasise the words where the |
| this takes longer to do, and you are more likely | | | | pitch moves. Again, this helps you to embed |
| to make mistakes that are difficult to undo. | | | | precisely where things change (as opposed to |
| Here are the five easy steps I use in my studio | | | | where they stay on the same note). |
| to help a singer sight-read, understand and | | | | 5. Finally, look for the long notes in each phrase. |
| memorise recitative. The sample Italian recitative | | | | Most classic recitative is written in quavers (eighth |
| comes from Come Scoglio, Fiordiligi's aria in | | | | notes), so look out for crotchets (quarter notes) |
| Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte. You can see a complete | | | | or minims (half notes), and be sure to put them |
| vocal score online free at the excellent Indiana | | | | in. The long notes will give you the rhythmic |
| University music library. | | | | structure of the sentence the composer wants. |
| 1. Start with the words, in whatever language it is | | | | In this example, the first syllable of Temerari is |
| written. Read them through aloud, listening for | | | | the longest note in the phrase. [You don't need to |
| accurate vowels, and looking for odd | | | | pay too much attention to long notes at the ends |
| pronunciations or strings of unusual letters. In | | | | of phrases - they are often put there by editors |
| Italian, several words are often strung together | | | | trying to fill the bar]. |
| resulting in three or four vowels in a row - make | | | | The trick to learning recitative is to consciously |
| sure you know and can pronounce all of them. | | | | identify the patterns and shapes in the words and |
| "Temerari, sortite fuori di questo loco" [If you | | | | the music. Once you have discovered exactly |
| have a word-for-word translation, use it now only | | | | where the different patterns start, you can use |
| to get the flavour of the emotions you are | | | | them as hooks to speed through the non-moving |
| portraying: "You reckless man, leave here | | | | sections |
| immediately"] | | | | I recommend that you do steps 1 to 5 under |
| 2. Now read the words aloud again, but this time | | | | tempo (thinking speed). Once you have completed |
| emphasise every syllable that moves pitch. Even | | | | those steps, you will find that you are able to sing |
| though this might feel a little unmusical, it's the | | | | the recitative confidently and effectively at speed. |
| most vital part of the entire process. It will enable | | | | And if you don't believe me, just try it! |