Meaning & use
recital in music
Last updated
Meaning
phrasecountable
A public performance of music given by one or more musicians, often featuring works by a single composer or for a single instrument.
Grammar: Countable; use 'a recital' or 'recitals'. Often followed by 'by' or 'of': a recital by the pianist; a recital of Chopin.
Patterns
- a recital by someone
- a recital of something
- give a recital
- attend a recital
She gave a piano recital in the town hall last night.
The cellist will perform a recital of Bach suites next month.
We attended a voice recital at the conservatory.
Common combinations
- piano recital
- He played a piano recital for the students.
- give a recital
- The young violinist will give a recital in London.
- recital hall
- The recital hall was full for the concert.
- senior recital
- Her senior recital was the highlight of the year.
Synonyms and how they differ
- concert
- A concert is a general musical performance, often by an orchestra or band, while a recital usually features a soloist or small group.
- performance
- Performance is a broad term for any act of presenting music, whereas recital is a specific type of formal solo or small-ensemble concert.
Commonly confused: recital in music or recitation?
recital in music vs recitation
Recitation often refers to the act of reciting something aloud, such as a poem, not a musical performance.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'recital' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A recital typically refers to a musical performance, often solo, so 'piano recital' fits. Option 0 is less typical because a full symphony is usually called a concert, not a recital. Option 1 refers to poetry, not music. Option 3 is unrelated to music.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “recital in music”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.