Baroque Music

Question 1

The vocal music of the Baroque period can be split into 2 categories. What are they (and what do they mean)?

Answer 1

Secular (non-religious)
Sacred (religious)

Question 2

For Higher Music, do we learn about both categories of vocal music in the Baroque period?

Answer 2

Yes

Question 3

What are OPERAS and ORATORIOS made up of? [3 marks]

Answer 3

Choruses [1], Arias [1] and Recitatives [1]

Question 4

Are recitatives more “songlike” than arias?

Answer 4

No, they are less songlike.

Question 5

A recitative is for a ____ voice (male/female).

Answer 5

Solo

Question 6

Recitatives tell the story of the opera/oratorio and are very melodic! True or false?

Answer 6

False, they tell the story of the opera and are less melodic.

Question 7

The rhythms of a recitative follow the patterns of speech. True or false?

Answer 7

True

Question 8

Arias usually follow a recitative/passage of recitatives. True or false?

Answer 8

True

Question 9

Arias don’t focus on the important aspects of the story. True or false?

Answer 9

False, arias focus on the important aspects of the story.

Question 10

During a passage of recitative, the accompaniment will become a lot _______ in comparison to the accompaniment of an aria.

Answer 10

simpler

Question 11

Tell me everything you know about RECITATIVES

Answer 11

For a solo voice. Replaces traditional dialogue. Tells the story of the opera/oratorio. Rhythms follow the patterns of speech. Less melodic than arias. Accompaniment a lot simpler than an aria accompaniment.

Question 12

OPERAS and ORATORIOS don’t often have a strong narrative arc (story-line). True or False?

Answer 12

False, they do.

Question 13

What is used in operas and oratorios to move the story along?

Answer 13

Recitatives!

Question 14

Oratorios are secular (non-religious). True or false?
What stories are usually they based on?

Answer 14

False, oratorios are sacred (religious).
Oratorios are usually based on a story from the Bible (or in later oratoria, based on a secular subject, eg. Greek/Roman mythology).

Question 15

Where were oratorios presented?

Answer 15

In music halls.

Question 16

What’s the difference between a chorus and an aria?

Answer 16

Arias - SOLO sung (in the opera).
Chorus - music written for a GROUP of singers.

Question 17

Oratorios are mostly sung with gibberish religious lyrics. True or False?

Answer 17

False, oratorios are mostly sung in ENGLISH with religious lyrics.

Question 18

An oratorio is a —– scale work without acting or stage design.

Answer 18

LARGE

Question 19

Oratorios were, at first, acted out with scenery and costumes. True or False?

Answer 19

True - present day oratorios aren’t acted out and have no scenery too.

Question 20

Describe TERNARY form in music?

Answer 20

An A section followed by a (different melody) B section, then a return to the A section.

(ABA form)
*Think of a jam sandwich. A is the bread, and B is the jam in between the bread.

Question 21

What is a DA CAPO ARIA?

Answer 21

An aria in TERNARY form, most commonly sung by a soloist in an oratorio/opera.

Question 22

On the return to the A section (in a da capo aria), Baroque era singers would avoid decorating the main melody with ornaments. True or False?

Give examples of ornaments from the Baroque Period. [3 marks]

Answer 22

False - singers of the Baroque Period would often decorate the main melody with various ornaments of the period.

*The 3rd section was not written out and was often ornamented.

Trills [1],
Mordents [1],
Acciaccaturas [1].

Question 23

Most da capo arias are accompanied by instruments or a small orchestra. True or False?

Answer 23

True

Question 24

Most da capo arias are accompanied by…

Answer 24

Instruments/a small orchestra.

Question 25

An OBBLIGATO is a prominent solo instrument part in a piece of vocal music. True or False?

Answer 25

True *The piece sounds empty without the pieces of the melody that the instrument plays. The singer sounds lonely. It's *cough*- obligatory for the solo instrument to play their part. It lifts & completes the piece in my opinion. Hence, OBBLIGATO.

Question 26

Tell me everything you know about OBBLIGATOS.

Answer 26

An obbligato is a fully written part for an instrument that is of equal importance to the melody [1]. Often adds an additional layer or texture [1]. Creates a specific effect that is essential to the overall composition and CANNOT BE LEFT OUT.

Question 27

What does a BASSO CONTINUO consist of?

Answer 27

A bass instrument for a single bass line (often cello/bass), and a harmony filling instrument (often harpsichord). *BASSO CONTINUO is a form of accompaniment in a Concerto Grosso.

Question 28

The basso continuo supports one or more melody lines. True or False?

Answer 28

True

Question 29

The PASSACAGLIA is a musical piece that usually has 3 beats in the bar (but can be in 4). True or False?

Answer 29

False. The PASSACAGLIA is a musical FORM that usually has 3 beats in the bar (but can be in 4).

Question 30

What can the PASSACAGLIA be described as?

Answer 30

A set of variations over a GROUND BASS.

Question 31

Many composers wrote passacaglias for the ----- or the -----------. But they also often included other instruments such as...

Answer 31

ORGAN, HARPSICHORD. Recorders, String instruments, Even a full orchestra.

Question 32

What is a GROUND BASS?

Answer 32

A simple bass line repeated. *The world's most boring riff.

Question 33

What are VARIATIONS?

Answer 33

Musical ideas that repeat but have small changes (in every round of repetition). *They variations may sound similar but not the same.

Question 34

What is a CONCERTO GROSSO?

Answer 34

A structure of instrumental music. *CONCERTO GROSSO literally means "big concerto".

Question 35

What 2 groups are a CONCERTO GROSSO made up of? You will hear separate musical ideas being developed in both sections. True or False?

Answer 35

Concertino, Ripieno. *Concertino + Ripieno = Concerto Grosso! False - You'll frequently hear a musical idea being passed between these 2 sections.

Question 36

Describe the RIPIENO in a concerto grosso.

Answer 36

The main group of ensemble instruments. *Made up the majority of the Concerto Grosso.

Question 37

Describe the CONCERTINO in a concerto grosso.

Answer 37

The small group of solo instruments.

Question 38

What is a RITORNELLO? Now what does it mean (with regards to a concerto grosso)?

Answer 38

A returning theme. In a concerto grosso, the RITORNELLO is the MAIN, RECURRING theme played by the RIPIENO.

Question 39

A RITORNELLO is usually played by the Ripieno as the opening theme. True or False?

Answer 39

True

Question 40

It's common to hear the ritornello once (very briefly) after a heavily accompanied solo section. True or False?

Answer 40

False, it's common to hear the ritornello 'RETURNING' after a LIGHTLY ACCOMPANIED solo section.

Question 41

What are the 2 main features of a CONCERTO GROSSO? (Not referring to the 2 groups!)

Answer 41

Ritornello, and the Basso continuo.

Question 42

Describe a SOLO CONCERTO.

Answer 42

A single instrument performs alongside the whole of the orchestra.

Question 43

Solo concertos were often in 3 movements... Describe these 3 movements. What type of movements were built up in RITORNELLO FORM?

Answer 43

quick-slow-quick. The quick movements were built up in ritornello form.

Question 44

What does it mean by RITORNELLO FORM? [5 marks]

Answer 44

The recurring musical theme [1] that repeats between different musical sections [1]. The ritornello (main melody/theme) is rarely an identical repeat [1] of the first time we hear it. *This is what makes ritornello form different from rondo form [1]. The ritornello can be somewhat varied (eg. in a different key/style) each time it returns [1].

Question 45

Describe an ACCIACCATURA.

Answer 45

An ornament which sounds like a short note played quickly before the main melody note. *They look and sound the same as grace notes.

Question 46

Describe a MORDENT.

Answer 46

An ornament consisting of the main note, the note above, then the main note again. *Similar to a trill...