Recitative music is a singing style that mimics spoken language and is often used in opera, oratorio, and other narrative forms of vocal music. It lies somewhere between spoken dialogue and formal singing, with the purpose of conveying the plot or story while preserving the rhythm and melody. As educators, it’s important to incorporate this versatile technique into our music curriculum to provide students with a well-rounded musical education.
Why Teach Recitative Music?
1. Historical Importance: Recitative music has been a significant aspect of Western classical music for centuries, particularly in operatic works by composers such as Monteverdi, Handel, Bach, and Mozart. By learning about recitatives, students gain valuable insights into the history and evolution of vocal music.
2. Expressiveness: Recitative gives singers an opportunity to express emotions and convey stories more effectively than through traditional, fully sung techniques. This can help students develop their interpretative skills in both singing and acting.
3. Musical Versatility: Understanding recitative music prepares students for a wider range of repertoire and situations, increasing their versatility as musicians.
Teaching Techniques for Recitative Music
1. Start with the Basics: Introduce your students to the concept of recitative by discussing its historical context and playing examples from various eras and composers. Make sure they understand the difference between recitatives and arias, as well as the different types of recitatives – such as secco (dry) and accompagnato (accompanied).
2. Develop Vocal Technique: Teach students how to accurately shift between their speaking voice and their singing voice while maintaining pitch accuracy and rhythmic precision. Emphasize breath control, vowel modification, and proper diction to improve intelligibility.
3. Interpretation: Encourage students to analyze the text in a recitative passage to find clues about the character’s feelings and intentions. Help them learn to vary their vocal timbre and use dynamics, tempo, and phrasing to tell a compelling story.
4. Practice Rhythm: Recitative music can have complex rhythms that change to fit the natural speech patterns of the language. Have students practice tapping the rhythm of their lines and provide accompaniment using a keyboard or other melodic instrument.
5. Collaborate with Others: Recitative often involves interactions between multiple characters, making it essential for students to learn how to effectively communicate with others onstage. Encourage group practice sessions and pair students to work on dialogues.
6. Performance Opportunities: Provide opportunities for your students to perform recitatives in class or at a recital, either as part of a larger work or as standalone pieces. This will help them gain confidence in their abilities and showcase their growth as performers.
