3.2- Baroque Song Details

Question 1

Coronation of Poppea plot

Answer 1

> begins with prologue, in which virtues of Fortune, Love and Virtue are arguing who has most influence.
Nero plans to depose his wife and marry his mistress, philosopher, Seneca opposes and is put to death
after much plotting and intrigue, opera ends with Poppea’s coronation

Question 2

Coronation of Poppea comments

Answer 2

> opera is a psychological drama, focusing on characters and their reactions to sitch’s they find themselves in
plot is serious but has some comic relief with maid and soldiers

Question 3

Coronation: Act 3 scene 7 musical details

Answer 3

CORONATION SCENE
> chorus:
sung by consuls and tribunes as they cron poppea
two part writing , imitative style
vocal tremolo on "imperial"

> sinfonia:
instrumental interlude for scene change, allows all characters but Nero and Poppea to leave

> duet: Pur ti miro
sung by Nero and Poppea
inst. intro sets tender mood
ABBA form
section a: ground bass 4 note descending line
word painting on “i die” and “i suffer”
imitation btwn 2 voices as they exchange endearments
section b: more harmonic variety, short motives exchanged imitatively
section b repeats then a returns
beautiful music is somewhat ironic in view of sitch
amazing love duet

Question 4

Dido & Aeneas plot

Answer 4

Aeneas, the Trojan prince is shipwrecked on shore of Carthage where Dido is Queen
They fall in love, but Aeneas is destined to be founder of Rome, so he must continue his quest
Overcome with grief Dido kills herself. Flames of funeral pyre light the harbor as ship departs

Question 5

Dido and Aeneas details: Act 3

Answer 5

Dido’s lament:
“death is now a welcome guest” she tells her servant
“remember me, but forget my fate”
>key: c minor
>recitativo secco, continuo only
word painting incl. desc. vocal line, symbolizing death and grief
chromaticism onf “death”

Aria: When I am laid in earth
> key G min
>time 3/2
>ground bass used, 5 bar pattern used 11 times
>word painting incl, desc. melisma on “laid in earth” and repetition of “remember me”

Question 6

Ein Feste Burg ist unser Gott

Answer 6

> 8 movements organized to create and arch like structure. using full perf forces in 1,5,8, to act as “pillars” for mvmts in between

1. chorale fugue based on chorale melody
2. sop and bass duet
3. bass solo
4. sop solo
5. unison chorale
6. tenor solo
7. alto and ten duet
8. four part chorale

Question 7

Brandenburg conc. no 2 in F

Answer 7

ritornello form
played tutti
made of 4 motives: 1 &3 built around tonic triad, 2&4 characterized by scale time movement
a bright cheerful mood is established
opening ritornello dominates entire work and is a unifying element
soloists take turns presenting a concertino theme in quick succession alternating with ritonello theme
modulates to closely related keys incl. C+, d-,g-,Bb+,a-

Question 8

Watermusic

Answer 8

ALLEGRO:
d maj.
common time
ABA structure
tempo: allegro
>this mvmt is an example of a non-dance mvmt included for variety in baroque suite.
>regal atmosphere conveyed through use of brass
>ascending motive outlines tonic triad, answered by descending scale passages
>brief improvisatory cadenza passage links it to next mvmt
HORNPIPE
d maj
3/2 time
ABA structure
tempo: allegro
A: begins with bold ascending figure
prominent use of syncopation
repeated note motive treated sequentially
high brass imitated by low brass
B: b minor
less active
features repeated not fig. from A
absence of brass creates contrast

Question 9

Sonata in D+ (Scarlatti)

Answer 9

section A:
>opening melody repeated to create symmetry
>rising sequential fig based on I-V7
>harmonic structure based on tonic, sub dom & dom chords
>homophonic texture anticipates classical style
>modulates to dom key of A+
>ends with cadenza
>includes running passages and repeated notes great for harpsichord
section B:
>opening melody reappears in A_
>has surprising dissonances
>foreshadows elements of sonata form
>modulates to d min, then returns to tonic