Baroque Music Flashcards
Tests and refreshes what you know about Baroque Music concepts, going over the Vocal & Instrumental music from that era. Concepts include: Operas, Oratorios, Recitatives, Basso Continuo, Ritornellos, Passacaglias etc. Good Luck! :)
The vocal music of the Baroque period can be split into 2 categories. What are they (and what do they mean)?
Secular (non-religious)
Sacred (religious)
For Higher Music, do we learn about both categories of vocal music in the Baroque period?
Yes
What are OPERAS and ORATORIOS made up of? [3 marks]
Choruses [1], Arias [1] and Recitatives [1]
Are recitatives more “songlike” than arias?
No, they are less songlike.
A recitative is for a ____ voice (male/female).
Solo
Recitatives tell the story of the opera/oratorio and are very melodic! True or false?
False, they tell the story of the opera and are less melodic.
The rhythms of a recitative follow the patterns of speech. True or false?
True
Arias usually follow a recitative/passage of recitatives. True or false?
True
Arias don’t focus on the important aspects of the story. True or false?
False, arias focus on the important aspects of the story.
During a passage of recitative, the accompaniment will become a lot _______ in comparison to the accompaniment of an aria.
simpler
Tell me everything you know about RECITATIVES
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.
OPERAS and ORATORIOS don’t often have a strong narrative arc (story-line). True or False?
False, they do.
What is used in operas and oratorios to move the story along?
Recitatives!
Oratorios are secular (non-religious). True or false?
What stories are usually they based on?
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).
Where were oratorios presented?
In music halls.
What’s the difference between a chorus and an aria?
Arias - SOLO sung (in the opera).
Chorus - music written for a GROUP of singers.
Oratorios are mostly sung with gibberish religious lyrics. True or False?
False, oratorios are mostly sung in ENGLISH with religious lyrics.
An oratorio is a —– scale work without acting or stage design.
LARGE
Oratorios were, at first, acted out with scenery and costumes. True or False?
True - present day oratorios aren’t acted out and have no scenery too.
Describe TERNARY form in music?
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.
What is a DA CAPO ARIA?
An aria in TERNARY form, most commonly sung by a soloist in an oratorio/opera.
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]
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].
Most da capo arias are accompanied by instruments or a small orchestra. True or False?
True
Most da capo arias are accompanied by…
Instruments/a small orchestra.
An OBBLIGATO is a prominent solo instrument part in a piece of vocal music. True or False?
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.
Tell me everything you know about OBBLIGATOS.
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.
What does a BASSO CONTINUO consist of?
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.
The basso continuo supports one or more melody lines. True or False?
True
The PASSACAGLIA is a musical piece that usually has 3 beats in the bar (but can be in 4). True or False?
False. The PASSACAGLIA is a musical FORM that usually has 3 beats in the bar (but can be in 4).
What can the PASSACAGLIA be described as?
A set of variations over a GROUND BASS.
Many composers wrote passacaglias for the —– or the ———–.
But they also often included other instruments such as…
ORGAN,
HARPSICHORD.
Recorders,
String instruments,
Even a full orchestra.
What is a GROUND BASS?
A simple bass line repeated.
*The world’s most boring riff.
What are VARIATIONS?
Musical ideas that repeat but have small changes (in every round of repetition).
*They variations may sound similar but not the same.
What is a CONCERTO GROSSO?
A structure of instrumental music.
*CONCERTO GROSSO literally means “big concerto”.
What 2 groups are a CONCERTO GROSSO made up of?
You will hear separate musical ideas being developed in both sections. True or False?
Concertino,
Ripieno.
*Concertino + Ripieno = Concerto Grosso!
False - You’ll frequently hear a musical idea being passed between these 2 sections.
Describe the RIPIENO in a concerto grosso.
The main group of ensemble instruments.
*Made up the majority of the Concerto Grosso.
Describe the CONCERTINO in a concerto grosso.
The small group of solo instruments.
What is a RITORNELLO?
Now what does it mean (with regards to a concerto grosso)?
A returning theme.
In a concerto grosso, the RITORNELLO is the MAIN, RECURRING theme played by the RIPIENO.
A RITORNELLO is usually played by the Ripieno as the opening theme. True or False?
True
It’s common to hear the ritornello once (very briefly) after a heavily accompanied solo section. True or False?
False, it’s common to hear the ritornello ‘RETURNING’ after a LIGHTLY ACCOMPANIED solo section.
What are the 2 main features of a CONCERTO GROSSO?
(Not referring to the 2 groups!)
Ritornello,
and the Basso continuo.
Describe a SOLO CONCERTO.
A single instrument performs alongside the whole of the orchestra.
Solo concertos were often in 3 movements… Describe these 3 movements.
What type of movements were built up in RITORNELLO FORM?
quick-slow-quick.
The quick movements were built up in ritornello form.
What does it mean by RITORNELLO FORM?
[5 marks]
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].
Describe an ACCIACCATURA.
An ornament which sounds like a short note played quickly before the main melody note.
*They look and sound the same as grace notes.
Describe a MORDENT.
An ornament consisting of the main note, the note above, then the main note again.
*Similar to a trill…
