Baroque

Question 1

Baroque orchestra

Answer 1

Strings

Question 2

Basso Continuo

Answer 2

In the Baroque period, the Basso Continuo or Continuo was a very popular style of accompaniment.
The continuo part consisted of Harpsichord and most commonly cello.

Question 3

Ground bass

Answer 3

A Ground Bass is a bass line which repeats whilst the
upper parts change

Question 4

Passacaglia

Answer 4

Passacaglia is a set of variations developed over a ground bass.

Question 5

Concerto grosso

Answer 5

piece of music written for a group of soloists called the CONCERTINO and string orchestra called the RIPIENO. Sometimes
the concertino play on their own and sometimes
they play with the ripieno.

Question 6

Basso continuo

Answer 6

Played by low string instrument and harpsichord

Question 7

Ritornello

Answer 7

RITORNELLO is a key feature of the Concerto Grosso, where the Ripieno (ensemble) group play this recurring theme between different sections played by the Concertino (solosits)

Question 8

Trill

Answer 8

Rapid and repeated movement

Question 9

Acciacatura

Answer 9

Crushed note

Question 10

Mordant

Answer 10

Main, Above, Main

Question 11

Recitative

Answer 11

used to tell the story. It is speech-like song that moves the plot along. The words are the most important, so the accompaniment is very simple, just a bass note and simple chords.

Question 12

De Capo Aria

Answer 12

a large-scale form in three sections (ABA), with the third repeating the first “from the capo, or head”—that is, from the beginning.

Question 13

Oratorio

Answer 13

Large-scale work for – soloists, chorus and orchestra.
Sacred – not secular like opera. Oratorios tend to take inspiration from biblical
stories or the lives of saints.

Question 14

Mass

Answer 14

The Mass is sung in Latin and there
are certain words to listen out
for…
Kyrie eleison
(“Lord, have mercy”)

Question 15

Polyphonic

Answer 15

Texture which consists of two or more melodic lines, possibly of equal importance, which weave independently of each other. Polyphonic is similar in meaning to contrapuntal

Question 16

Plagal cadence

Answer 16

This is often known as the ‘AMEN’ cadence as it is found at the end of hymns and sung to ‘Amen’

Question 17

Interrupted cadence

Answer 17

This cadence is a ‘surprise
cadence’ You think the it is about to finish on chord I but instead it finishes on chord VI (6) a minor chord.
The bass line moves up one step which makes it easier to identify.

Question 18

Tierce de Picardie

Answer 18

A major chord of the tonic at the end of a musical section that is either modal or in a minor key. This is achieved by raising the third of the expected minor triad by a semitone to create a major triad, as a form of resolution