Baroque and Classical

Question 1

What is a Concerto Grosso?

Answer 1

A concerto grosso is a type of concerto where a small group of soloists is contrasted with a larger group of players.

Question 2

What is Ripieno?

Answer 2

The larger group in a concerto grosso

Question 3

What is Concertino?

Answer 3

The Small group of soloists in a concerto grosso

Question 4

What is Basso Continuo?

Answer 4

A harpsichord or organ provide the basso continuo continued to provide supporting harmonies when the concertino played on their
own.

Question 5

what does Tutti mean?

Answer 5

everyone playing together (concerto grosso)

Question 6

What does ritornello mean?

Answer 6

It is a section of music that returns several times during the piece (almost like a chorus of a song). The ritornello is often the opening section of the movement.

Question 7

What is a Passacaglia?

Answer 7

A passacaglia is a piece of music which features variations over a ground bass.

Question 8

What is a Baroque sonata?

Answer 8

A work for solo piano or harpsichord.
A work for solo instrument accompanied by harpsichord.
Often the bass line would also be played by a cello

Question 9

What is an Acciaccatura?

Answer 9

The acciaccatura is a ‘crushed’ note to be played as

quickly as possible just before the main note.

Question 10

What is a Mordent?

Answer 10

The mordent sign tells you to play the main note, the note above and then the main note again.

Question 11

What is a Tierce de Picardie?

Answer 11

A minor piece with a major chord at the end.

Question 12

What is an Oratorio?

Answer 12

Like an opera but told stories from the bible/religious stories. (questions in English so you can hear)

Question 13

What are Recitatives?

Answer 13

Sung speech, usually used to tell stories quickly.

Question 14

What does Obbligato mean?

Answer 14

a prominent solo instrument part in a piece of vocal music

Question 15

What does Da capo Aria Mean?

Answer 15

It is a musical form. it is in 3 sections - ABA
The first section starts and ends in the tonic
(home key).
The second section is always contrasting either through key, texture, mood or
tempo (speed).
The final section is not written out because it was understood that it was a
repeat of section A except with the addition of ornaments (an ornament decorates a
melody by adding short, extra notes).

Question 16

What is Sonata Form?

Answer 16

a composition technique used in the classical period. it has 3 sections - exposition, development and recapitulation.

Question 17

What happens in the exposition in Sonata form?

Answer 17

In the exposition the composer writes his or her main ideas. These ideas are called subjects. There are two subjects. These two subjects contrast in key and in character. The subjects are also accompanied right from the start.

Question 18

What happens in the development in Sonata form?

Answer 18

in the development the composer develops the ideas used in the exposition. this could include modulating frequently. Generally the idea is to build up dramatic
tension and conflict whilst steering clear completely from the home key. This all builds up towards a climax before the music makes for home, the TONIC (home key)

Question 19

What happens in the recapitulation in Sonata form?

Answer 19

In this section the composer ‘recapitulates’ or repeats in a slightly altered way the music from the EXPOSITION. Initially everything sounds the same so the FIRST SUBJECT is heard in the TONIC key and
is followed by the BRIDGE passage. This time however, the bridge passage doesn’t modulate because the composer wants to keep the SECOND SUBJECT in the home key so that the movement can end in the TONIC

Question 20

What is Chamber music?

Answer 20

Chamber music is a form of music that is composed for a small group of instruments - traditionally a group that could fit into a palace chamber (eg. string quartet)