Recital, n.
Etymology: [From Recite.]
1. The act of reciting; the repetition of the words of another, or of a document; rehearsal; as, the recital of testimony.
2. A telling in detail and due order of the particulars of anything, as of a law, an adventure, or a series of events; narration. Addison.
3. That which is recited; a story; a narration.
4. (Mus.)
4 more senses
A vocal or instrumental performance by one person; -- distinguished from concert; as, a song recital; an organ, piano, or violin recital.
5. (Law)
The formal statement, or setting forth, of some matter of fact in any deed or writing in order to explain the reasons on which the transaction is founded; the statement of matter in pleading introductory to some positive allegation. Burn.
Syn. -- Account; rehearsal; recitation; narration; description; explanation; enumeration; detail; narrative. See Account.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for recital; he lists it under history, report, story.
Where he writes about it:
Tale is nearly synonymous with story, but is somewhat archaic; it is used for an imaginative, legendary, or fictitious recital, especially if of ancient date; as, a fairy tale; also, for an idle or malicious report; as, do not tell tales; "where there is no tale-bearer, the strife ceaseth." Prov. xxvi, 20. — from story