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
fugue
polyphonic composition based on one main theme or subject
opera
drama that is sung to orchestral accompaniment on one main theme or subject
sonata
an instrumental composition in several movements for 1 to 8 players
trio sonata
three melodic lines; played by 3 instruments and a basso continuo
solo concerto
a piece for a single soloist and an orchestr
prelude and fugue
short piece usually serving to introduce the fugue; polyphonic composition
mass
sacred choral composition made up of five sections
What are the parts of the Ordinary of the Mass?
Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus dei
cantata
composition in several movements, usually for chorus
oratorio
large-scale composition for chorus, soloists and orchestra, without acting scenery or costumes often based on biblical stories
- What type of composition is the Messiah and who wrote it?
Oratorio/ Handel
What type of composition is Orpheus and who wrote it?
Opera/Monteverdi
Who wrote over 450 concerto grossi and solo concertos during the Baroque period; and his nic-name is the
Red Priest?
Vivaldi
Which Baroque composer was born in Germany but spent most of his adult life writing music in England?
Handel
Which Baroque composer had 2 wives, 20 children, and worked for the Lutheran Church in Germany?
Bach
in what city was the first public opera house opened?
venice
What were the castrated male singers of the Baroque period called?
Castrato
is a fugue mostly chords or mostly polyphonic?
polyphonic
What Baroque instrument would use music written with Figured Bass?
Harpsichord
In what country was opera first written?
Italy
In what language did Bach write his cantatas
German
What are the three most common movement in a concerto grosso?
fast/slow/fast
What piece, many times, precedes the fugue?
prelude
What is unusual about the ending of many Baroque pieces written in a minor key?
ends with a major chord
Changes in texture are more frequent in Bach’s music than in Handel’s
false
list the dates of the baroque period
1600-1750
The Messiah was performed with more singers and instruments in the Baroque period than it is today.
false
What is program music and what Baroque composer wrote program music?
Instrumental music associated with a story, poem, idea or scene/Vivaldi
unity of mood
- Usually one basic mood; what begins joyfully will remain that way throughout
- No emotional state was off limits. Composers could try to express joy, sorrow, discord
- Specific rhythmic or melodic patterns were used to convey these emotions
- The exception was in vocal music—though one emotion would be presented for a length of time before yielding to a different emotion
rhythm
- Unity of mood through the continuity of the rhythmic patterns.
- Patterns heard at the beginning of a piece are repeated throughout
- The forward motion is rarely interrupted—though there are complete cadences throughout, there is not a sense of completion on the very end of the piece.
- The beat is far more important in Baroque music than in Renaissance or Middle Age music
melody
• Melodies also help to create this continuity of mood
• The forward drive of a piece can be heard in the sequential use of melodies
• Baroque melodies are elaborate and ornamental and generally not easy to remember or to sing
Dynamics
dynamics
- Dynamics tend to be fairly consistent throughout
* Terrace dynamics; no crescendos and dimenuendos
texture
• Usually polyphonic; particularly instrumental music
• Imitation was common; one voice would start a melody, then another voice would take it up, etc.
Depended on the composer—Bach typically wrote polyphonic music whereas Handel would contrast between polyphonic and homophonic—especially in this vocal music; usually because text needed to be expressed in a different way
