5. Famous People and Composers contributions Flashcards
Pope Gregory I
middle ages
leader of RCC from 590-604
NOT the composer
helped organize and codify music that had accumulated
which led to uniform liturgical service
oversaw expansion of schools to train singers in performance of sacred repertoire
Hildegaard von Bingen
middle ages
founded religious order on Rupertsberg
famous for scientific writings and prophecies
wrote music and poetry
melodies often based on repeated motives
Philippe de Vitry
middle ages
French composer and poet
innovator of notation of rhythm
broke free from older patterns and rhythmic modes
wrote “Ars Nova” which defined musical language in 14th century
Martin Luther
Renaissance
reforms included conduction service in German
replace elaborate polyphonic settings with simpler music like German chorales which were monophonic and easy to sing
Council of Trent
Renaissance
catholic response to Luther recommended: text available simpler counterpoint no inst. but organ no displays of virtuosity avoid intense chromaticism
Guillaume de Machaut
middle ages
> wrote both sacred and secular music
used greater variety in intervals and more sophisticated counterpoint
wrote both monophonic and polyphonic songs
composed first complete polyphonic setting of Mass Ordinary
wrote “messe de nostre dame”, one if earliest complete settings of mass ordinary by a single composer
Josquin de Prez
renaissance
> highly successful and renowned in his day
great master of contrapuntal style
rich in emotional expression
vocal settings sought to express meaning of text through use of syllabic text setting
wrote close to 100 motets,18 masses and 60+ chansons
Giovanni de Palestrina
renaissance
> his compositions reflected his deep faith
vocal polyphony in a cappella style
defined renaissance polyphony and served as model for counterpoint students to this day
clarity in text setting was achieved through chordal texture, clear cut phrases and musical accents that corresponded with the text
Carlo Gesualdo (renaissance)
> Italian composer and lutenist
intensely emotional style
extravagant word painting
exaggerated chromaticism with high level dissonance
abrupt chord changes
frequent use repetition
wrote his own texts, often reflecting his guilt and remorse
John Farmer
renaissance
> composed four voice madrigals
combined chordal homophonic textures with imitative polyphony
favored lighthearted, pastoral texts
employed vivid word painting
Claudio Monteverdi
baroque
> embraced use of fig. bass, maj/min tonality,monody and “doctrine of affections”
used chromaticism as an expressive device
increased his role of instruments to create moods and characters in his operas
established the love duet
Henry Purcell
baroque
> prolific composer despite short life
combined elements of several national styles: lyric arias from Italian, ornamentation from france and choral tradition from English
effective use of word painting
virtuostic keyboard style
JS Bach
> music represents the ultimate in baroque craftsmanship
did not invent new forms but perfected existing ones
amazing control of polyphonic texture
wrote fugues throughout his career
organized large scale works systematically(eg c maj, cmin etc)
composed many sets of works: suites, inventions, partitias
virtuostic organist who wrote many difficult works for keyboard
composed keyboard music for all levels
GF Handel
> absorbed the international styles of his time
use of basic elements(chordal passages, scales)makes his style accessible and appealing
conveys sense of pageantry and dramatic theatrical style through full SATB and bold contrasts of dynamics
composed over 40 opera seria
used vivid word painting
invented the organ concerto
Domenico Scarlatti
baroque
> brilliant harpsichordist
cont. to development of idiomatic writing for harpsichord: rapid passages, hand crossing and arpeggios
absorbed international influences of Italy, spain and france
binary and rounded binary structures foreshadow sonata form
