Mantinada (Greek: μαντινάδα), pluralmantinades (μαντινάδες) is the art of musical declamation (recitative) in form of a narrative or dialogue, sung in the rhythm of accompanying music. It is prominent in several parts ofGreece, especially on the island ofCrete where mantinades are performed in accompaniment of theCretan lyra and Cretanlaouto (a stringed instrument resemblinglute).The word is derived fromVenetianmatinada, meaning "morning song".[1]
They typically consist of Cretan rhymingcouplets, often improvised duringdance music. The rhymed Cretan poetry of theRenaissance, especially the verse epicErotokritos, is reminiscent of the mantinada, and couplets fromErotokritos have been used as mantinades. Mantinades have either love or satire as their topics. They are invariably composed indekapentasyllabos verse and are oftenantiphonal, i.e. a verse elicits a response and this leads to another response and so on.
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