Baroque and Medieval- test 2 Flashcards
Gregorian chant
which consists of melody set to sacred Latin texts and sung without accompaniment.
(The chant is monophonic in texture.)
church modes
Similar to the major and minor scales, but uses a different pattern of intervals to give them an “otherwordly” sound
Pope Gregory
He reorganized the Catholic liturgy; Even though he is credited with its creation,
Gregorian chant evolved over hundreds of year
Word painting
Musical representation of specific images
Palestrina
An important Italian Renaissance composer; He composed exclusively for the Catholic Church;
He was the music director for St. Peter’s in Rome; He composed 104 masses and approximately
450 other sacred works
- Terraced dynamics
loud then soft; no crescendos or diminuendos
basso continuo
–harpsichord and a cello or bassoon
figured bass
A system of numbers that the keyboard player would have to interpret to create the chords
movement
piece that sounds fairly complete and independent but is part of a larger composition
tutti
the full orchestra or a large group of musicians contrasted with a smaller group
ritornello
a repeated section of music usually played by the full orchestra; the refrain
libretto
text of an opera
aria
song for solo voice with orchestra accompaniment; expresses an emotional state through melody
recitative
vocal line which imitates the rhythms and pitch fluctuations of speech
chorus
a group of singers performing together
overture or prelude
orchestral composition which opens an opera
castrato
male singer castrated before puberty to retain high voice range
trill
the rapid alternation of two musical pitches
French overture
opening piece in Baroque suite; two parts—first with dotted rhythms and the second quick
chorale
hymn tune sung to a German religious text
chorale prelude
short composition for organ, based on a hymn tune
concerto gross
composition for several instrument soloists and small orchestra