Assessment 2 Terms Flashcards
Mannerism
An art term that describes paintings and sculptures characterized by their use of distortion, explicit word painting, and unsettling juxtaposition for dramatic effect.
-Extreme dissonance, unusual harmonic progressions, exaggerated word painting
Musica Reservata
Music “reserved” for a select audience of elite noble-born or aristocratic listeners.
(see mannerism)
Syntactic
Essential idea is presented and varied throughout a work
Affect
Predominant emotion of text or musical work
Basso Continuo
Continuous bass; the supporting instrumental line that provides framework for the supporting voice
-allowed the soloist to focus on projecting the text
Figured Bass
The numerical system used to deviate from root position harmonies
Motoric Rhythm
Rhythm is propulsive, moving forward at all times. Characteristically Baroque
Monody
A style of accompanied solo song, with an embellished upper voice and a simple basso continuo
Soloist + simple basso continuo
Homophonic/homophony
Principle melodic line with supporting voices that articulate the harmonies.
Homorhythmic: Voices move together
e.g. Claudio Monteverdi “Cruda Amarilli”
Embellishment
Ornamentations that decorate the main melody of a composition
Sprezzatura
Term Caccini used to describe the freedom and disregard for meter and rhythm in monody singing.
Music written to sound free and spontaneous
Italian Madrigal
Italian vocal music emerging in the 1530’s that featured 3 or more singers.
Textually and musically more complex than the frottola
Through-composed: Music that doesn’t have any repeating sections
Cross relation
Simultaeous or nearly simultaneous sounding of two pitches a half–step apart
AKA Minor 2 interval
Chromaticism
Movement in half-steps
Tragedie en musique
Genre of French opera
Began the use of the French overture
All written in honour of King Louis
Recitative semplice/secco
Voice with only basso continuo
Used in long passages of prose
Sparse in sound; timbral simplicity
Recitative accompagnato
Voice supported by full orchestra
Used for high drama and intensity sections
Opera Seria
“Serious opera” from Italian classical antiquity.
Strict division of recitative and arias.
Emphasis on virtuosity, especially in da capo arias
Use of castrati
AKA Italian opera
Da Capo Aria
Type of aria consisting of 3 sections: A, B, A’
Singers expected to embellish
AKA an “early sonata form”
Castrato
Boys who were castrated to preserve their naturally high voices pre-puberty
Gave them range of soprano with power of male voice
Prima prattica
“First practice”. Traditional Rennaisance polyphony
Seconda prattica
“Second practice”. Traditional baroque era.
Focuses on the projection of text
Closely associated with practice of monody
Overture
Introductory movement to an opera
Sublime
The juxtaposition of different emotions
Cadenza
Solo passage in the end of a concerto movement or aria
Displays of virtuosity
Usually improvised
Cantata
Umbrella term for baroque vocal music
(Bach wrote many sacred cantatas)
Known as solo madrigal in 17c
Patronage
Rich aristocrat who hires musicians/composers
Air de cour
“Courtly air”. Genre of secular French song
Either polyphonic or homophonic (voice + lute)
Obbligato accompaniment
Style of homophony where supporting parts contribute important material to the work
Oratorio
Genre of vocal music similar to opera (recitatives, arias, choruses), but without the staging or costumes
Most revolve around religious subjects