(Italian for "representative style") is an Italian

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...

term. It is a style of

singing Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or with ...

developed in the early Italian operas of the late 16th century that is more expressive than speech, but not as melodious as song. It is a dramatic

recitative Recitative (, also known by its Italian name "''recitativo''" ()) is a style of delivery (much used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas) in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms and delivery of ordinary speech. Recitative does not repeat ...

style of the early Baroque era in which melodies move freely over a foundation of simple chords. In ''The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music'', it is defined as follows:

stile rappresentativo (Italian, "In representational style"). Term used by early Italian composers of opera and
oratorio An oratorio () is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Like most operas, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias. However, opera is ...
to describe their new device of
recitative Recitative (, also known by its Italian name "''recitativo''" ()) is a style of delivery (much used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas) in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms and delivery of ordinary speech. Recitative does not repeat ...
, in which human speech was represented dramatically as in Peri's '' Euridice'' (1600) and
Monteverdi Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi (baptized 15 May 1567 – 29 November 1643) was an Italian composer, choirmaster and string player. A composer of both secular and sacred music, and a pioneer in the development of opera, he is consider ...
's '' L'Arianna'' (1608).''The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music'', 1996 by Michael Kennedy and Joyce Bourne

References

Italian opera terminology {{Italy-music-stub