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H Music w/ Sofea <3 > Baroque Music > Flashcards

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! :)

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Ultimate Music Theory flashcards
1
Q

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

A

Secular (non-religious)
Sacred (religious)

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2
Q

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

A

Yes

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3
Q

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

A

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

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4
Q

Are recitatives more “songlike” than arias?

A

No, they are less songlike.

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5
Q

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

A

Solo

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6
Q

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

A

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

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7
Q

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

A

True

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8
Q

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

A

True

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9
Q

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

A

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

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10
Q

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

A

simpler

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11
Q

Tell me everything you know about RECITATIVES

A

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.

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12
Q

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

A

False, they do.

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13
Q

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

A

Recitatives!

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14
Q

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

A

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).

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15
Q

Where were oratorios presented?

A

In music halls.

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16
Q

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

A

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

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17
Q

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

A

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

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18
Q

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

A

LARGE

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19
Q

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

A

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

20
Q

Describe TERNARY form in music?

A

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.

21
Q

What is a DA CAPO ARIA?

A

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

22
Q

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]

A

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].

23
Q

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

A

True

24
Q

Most da capo arias are accompanied by…

A

Instruments/a small orchestra.

25
Q

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

A

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.

26
Q

Tell me everything you know about OBBLIGATOS.

A

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.

27
Q

What does a BASSO CONTINUO consist of?

A

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.

28
Q

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

A

True

29
Q

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

A

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

30
Q

What can the PASSACAGLIA be described as?

A

A set of variations over a GROUND BASS.

31
Q

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

A

ORGAN,
HARPSICHORD.

Recorders,
String instruments,
Even a full orchestra.

32
Q

What is a GROUND BASS?

A

A simple bass line repeated.

*The world’s most boring riff.

33
Q

What are VARIATIONS?

A

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

34
Q

What is a CONCERTO GROSSO?

A

A structure of instrumental music.

*CONCERTO GROSSO literally means “big concerto”.

35
Q

What 2 groups are a CONCERTO GROSSO made up of?

You will hear separate musical ideas being developed in both sections. True or False?

A

Concertino,
Ripieno.

*Concertino + Ripieno = Concerto Grosso!

False - You’ll frequently hear a musical idea being passed between these 2 sections.

36
Q

Describe the RIPIENO in a concerto grosso.

A

The main group of ensemble instruments.

*Made up the majority of the Concerto Grosso.

37
Q

Describe the CONCERTINO in a concerto grosso.

A

The small group of solo instruments.

38
Q

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

A

A returning theme.

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

39
Q

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

A

True

40
Q

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

A

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

41
Q

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

A

Ritornello,
and the Basso continuo.

42
Q

Describe a SOLO CONCERTO.

A

A single instrument performs alongside the whole of the orchestra.

43
Q

Solo concertos were often in 3 movements… Describe these 3 movements.

What type of movements were built up in RITORNELLO FORM?

A

quick-slow-quick.

The quick movements were built up in ritornello form.

44
Q

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

A

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].

45
Q

Describe an ACCIACCATURA.

A

An ornament which sounds like a short note played quickly before the main melody note.

*They look and sound the same as grace notes.

46
Q

Describe a MORDENT.

A

An ornament consisting of the main note, the note above, then the main note again.

*Similar to a trill…

H Music w/ Sofea <3 (3 decks)

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