Question about Figaro and Susanna's recitative
So I'm studying The Marriage of Figaro for a project in college and there's something I don't understand about how the first recitative is written and played. In the picture below, the voices alternate between Susanna and Figaro. Makes sense. The part below is a bunch of sustains in what I assume to be the cello part. Ok that also makes sense, but the part I don't understand is this. When the opera is performed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OYtlGpApc0&t=357s, at 7:34, the recitative starts. I hear no cello sustains and I can hear a harpsichord playing what I believe is an arpeggio at certain moments. I'm certain it was intended to be a basso continuo, but my question is: is the harpsichord part improvised, and if so, how does the player know what to play if its not written in the score? Does the cello notes give an indication? And where is the cello? Am I just deaf?
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Comments
I'm guessing you are looking at a reduction produced for study purposes, not the actual performance score. The actual performance score probably has figured bass indications that the harpsichordist is following. As it is, the study score doesn't specifically say those notes are for cello, so I'm not sure why you'd assume that - maybe the previous section was for cello? That's an issue with reductions - it can be unclear what instruments are involved at any given moment.
In reply to I'm guessing you are looking… by Marc Sabatella
I assume it’s a cello part because I researched recitatives, and the voices are usually accompanied by a cello and keyboard instrument. Thanks for the advice though. I’ll keep looking
In reply to I assume it’s a cello part… by Beethoven Unleashed
From Wikipedia: The Marriage of Figaro is scored for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, timpani, and strings; the recitativi secchi are accompanied by a keyboard instrument, usually a fortepiano or a harpsichord, often joined by a cello. The instrumentation of the recitativi secchi is not given in the score, so it is up to the conductor and the performers.
In reply to From Wikipedia: The Marriage… by mike320
Well alright then. Thank you very much