Baroque Flashcards
What country was at the forefront of musical innovation during the Baroque era?
Italy.
What were the possible creative avenues for women in the Baroque era?
- Join a convent (composing and singing).
- Be part of the upper class, be trained as a singer, and be lucky (these women were often considered morally questionable).
Who was Chiara Margarita Cozzolani and what were her accomplishments?
She was a Benedictine nun and composer who wrote and published three music collections (motets, dialogues, and one collection for Vespers). She was also the choir director at and later prioress and abbess at a convent dedicated to St. Radegonda.
What is Cozzolani’s Magnificat?
- A canticle to The Virgin Mary from the Gospel of Luke.
- Large scale and polychoral (2 choirs, 4 voices each).
- Composed in a way that it enhanced worship.
- Sung by nuns.
- Refrains, virtuosic solos, duple and triple meter.
- Closes with a doxology.
Who was Barbara Strozzi and what were her accomplishments?
Was a composer of sacred and secular music who studied at the Venetian academy and performed at many others throughout Italy. She is most famous for her secular arias about the suffering of unfulfilled love. She published 8 volumes of music in her lifetime.
What is Amor dormiglione?
- A monody.
- De capo aria (A-B-A).
- Invocation to the god of love with word painting.
What is monody?
A solo soprano with the accompaniment of a harpsichord or bass lute.
What is a de capo aria?
An aria that has a simple accompaniment.
What are the two major musical parts of opera?
- The aria (Big, dramatic soliloquy where the action stops and there is a repetition of a certain emotion).
- The recitative (Lots of sung dialogue moves the plot forward between arias. Accumulates tension and emphasizes natural inflections. Uses cords as accompaniment).
What is opera?
A large-scale, hyper-realistic sung drama with music, poetry, acting, costumes, and scenery.
What are the other musical portions of an opera?
- Ensembles (duets, trios, quartets).
- Orchestra (sets the mood with overtures and sinfonias).
- Choral (Back-up the soloist, comment on the action).
What are overtures?
The music the orchestra plays to introduce the opera.
What are sinfonias?
Interludes between scenes.
What is a libretto and who is it written by?
- The text or script of the opera.
- The librettist writes it and then gives it to a composer who creates the music for it.
What were early librettos based on?
Ancient history, epic poetry, and mythology.
Where did opera start?
At royal weddings and on ceremonial occasions.
How did opera change as it gained popularity?
- It went to the public.
- Opera houses began to open.
- Accompanying orchestras became standard.
- Spread through Europe (Fench opera, English masque).
What Renaissance composer also composed during the Baroque era?
Monteverdi. He composed Orfeo and The Coronation of Poppea.
Who was Henry Purcell and what were his accomplishments?
- English court musician, organist, singer.
- Known for his assimilation of English, Italian and French styles.
- Composed masques, operas, instrumental music, and sacred and secular music.
- Composed Dido and Aeneas.
What is Dido’s Lament?
- An aria that discusses the grief of Aeneas leaving and Dido’s wish to die.
- Recitative of “Thy hand, Belinda”.
- A-A-B-B style.
- Slow triple meter.
- Descending bass line that is symbolic of grief.
What is a chorale?
A short German hymn based on composed and recycled melodies sung in unison in religious settings. Were sung in a four-part choir when done professionally.
What is a Lutheran cantata?
A multi-movement work performed by soloists, a chorus, and an orchestra composed of solo arias, choruses, and recitatives. A sort of musical sermon based on the Gospel of the day. Part of a church service.
Who is the most famous composer of Lutheran Cantatas?
Johann Sebastian Bach.
What are Bach’s major accomplishments?
- Brought existing forms to a higher level.
- Wrote many pieces still used today.
- Worked with many churches.
- Known as a master of cantatas and fugue.
What is the structure of a cantata?
- 5-8 movements.
- Interspersed solo or duet arias and recitatives.
- Hymnlike to intricate fugue setting.
- The first, middle, and last movements are based on chorale tunes.
What is Wachet auf (Sleepers, Awake)?
A seven-movement cantata composed by Bach that is hymnlike and uses text from the Gospel of Matthew. The chorales used follow an A-A-B form with different tones in each (1: Majestic and marchlike, 4: Bright major key, 7: fanfarelike opening).
