Baroque Era

Question 1

Recitative

Answer 1

means to recite - sets the stage for emotion; a narrative song that describes some action, thought, or emotion; follows the natural flow of the language, and is more a speaking composition than a singing composition

Question 2

Secco Recitative

Answer 2

No r.m.t. recitative which features a sparse accompaniment and moves with great freedom; the accompaniment will typically be a keyboard instrument or basso continuo

Question 3

accompanied recitative

Answer 3

recitative accompanied by the whole orchestra; sounds like aria, but still in recitative

Question 4

aria

Answer 4

a song/tune; will be about the emotion; more opera-like; sung by a single voice with or without accompaniment

Question 5

chorus

Answer 5

a fairly large company of singers who perform together, usually in parts

Question 6

basso continuo

Answer 6

consisting of a bass part that runs continuously throughout a work

Question 7

ground bass

Answer 7

repeated pattern in bass line that never changes and never stops

Question 8

absolutism

Answer 8

absolute rulers having absolute power over absolutely every aspect of life.

Question 9

age of science

Answer 9

An intellectual and scientific movement of 18th century Europe which was characterized by a rational and scientific approach to religious, social, political, and economic issues.

Question 10

baroque dulaism

Answer 10

age of absolutism/science, nothing vs everything, extravagant vs structure

Question 11

baroque

Answer 11

Relating to or denoting a style of European architecture, music, and art of the 17th and 18th centuries that followed mannerism and is characterized by ornate detail

Question 12

baroque era

Answer 12

1600-1750; this time period is called the age of absolutism and the age of science. “baroque” term is only used for art, architecture and music.

Question 13

Venice

Answer 13

Serene Republic; homogenous, homophonic sound; “old” –> most sacred music comes from here

Question 14

Florence

Answer 14

opera invented around 1600 as a reaction against madrigalism. Believed that only 1 person should direct emotion of a sung word

Question 15

opera

Answer 15

a drama set to music

Question 16

opera seria

Answer 16

serious opera on an ancient greek/roman story

Question 17

opera buffa

Answer 17

comic opera

Question 18

functional harmony

Answer 18

harmony that serves the function of supporting the tonal center

Question 19

triads in context

Answer 19

all of the harmonies that are available within the context of one key

Question 20

well-tempered tuning

Answer 20

the system of tuning devised in baroque era that allowed keyboard and lute player to play at every major and minor key without being re-tuned (g# and a flat are the same)

Question 21

pure intonation

Answer 21

The original system of tuning based on Pythagorean Theorem and Golden Mean. g# is not the same as A flat.

Question 22

orchestra

Answer 22

largest musical ensemble with strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion

Question 23

virtuosity

Answer 23

when take an instrument from its level to a higher, unexpected level

Question 24

concerto

Answer 24

multi-movement work for orchestra and one solo instrument.

Question 25

concerto grosso

Answer 25

for 2 or more solo instruments to play against an orchestra/larger ensemble.

Question 26

ritornello

Answer 26

piece of music in orchestra that keeps returning (doesn’t come back entirely in the middle, so it is diagrammed as lower-case ‘r’)

Question 27

arpeggio

Answer 27

broken chord

Question 28

cadenza

Answer 28

everyone drops out, and one instrument does an improv solo

Question 29

double stop

Answer 29

2 or more notes on several different strings

Question 30

dance suite

Answer 30

collection of misc. stylized dances

Question 31

oratorio

Answer 31

a sacred drama set to music

Question 32

chorale

Answer 32

german word for “hymn”

Question 33

cantata

Answer 33

miniaturized oratorio made to fit in the Lutheran church service

Question 34

fugue

Answer 34

a polyphonic baroque composition whereby a voice is passed around in staggered entrances

Question 35

grouped chorale

Answer 35

breaks within the chorale

Question 36

continuous chorale

Answer 36

no breaks within the chorale

Question 37

figured bass

Answer 37

the bass part that is marked so as to indicate the harmonies that should go with each note (with triads in context)

Question 38

Montaverdi

Answer 38

last great madrigalist, first great opera composer

Question 39

well tempered clavier

Answer 39

collection in 2 volumes of the preludes and fugues composed by Bach for clavichord or harpsichord. There is a Prelude and Fugue written in each of the 12 major and minor keys. This was done to demonstrate the importance of equal temperament for tuning.

Question 40

church, court and opera house

Answer 40

the 3 places where baroque composers/artists made their living.

Question 41

basic baroque orchestra

Answer 41

only strings and lute playing

Question 42

festive baroque orchestra

Answer 42

brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments are added to the basic baroque orchestra.

Question 43

Dynamics

Answer 43

how loud or how soft the music is and how these changes occur - musical term and is subjective.