Secco Recitativo
Secco recitativo (“dry” recitative) is a means of accompanying a vocal line in eighteenth century large scale vocal works, both sacred and secular, utilizing only continuo, the group of instruments that plays the basso continuo part, usually cello and harpsichord. It is often characterized as chordal, simple, and encompassing a small range. Sometimes referred to as "recitativo semplice" (simple recitative), it is typically sung in rhythm dictated by linguistic accents.
Excerpt from "Ecco che giunge a noi" from La Conversione di Sant' Agostino by Johann Adolf Hasse.
Friedenskirche Potsdam-Sanssouci
Opera, Oratorio, Tenor, Musical forms, Eighteenth century, Galant
"Ecco che giunge a noi esso in gravi pensieri parmi ancora raccolto; udiamo inosservati ciò che risolverà. Me là seguite sarem pronti al soccorso, se il veggiam vacillar." (English Translation: "See, here he comes to us, still sunk, it seems, in profound thought: let us, unobserved, hear what he will decide. Follow me over here: we will be ready to help if we see him vacillate."