Baroque people, groups, & movements Flashcards
What was the Florentine Camerata?
a group of intellectuals, poets, and musicians who worked under the patronage of Count Giovanni de’Bardi in Florence, Italy
met during the last decades of the 16th century
[p. 66]
Describe Handel’s musical contributions.
absorbed the international styles of his time: German, French, and Italian
use of very basic musical elements (chordal passages, scale figures) makes his style accessible and appealing
frequent alternation of homorhythmic passages with contrapuntal textures
conveys a sense of pageantry and dramatic theatrical style through grandiose gestures (ex: full SATB choral sound; bold contrasts of dynamics)
an important contributor to the development of Italian opera seris; composed over 40
da capo arias were a showcase for vocal virtuosity
created the English oratorio, emphasizing the role of the chorus
used both recitativo secco and recitativo accompagnato in operas and oartorios
used vivid word painting
virtuosic, idiomatic keyboard style
invented the organ concerto
contributed to the development of orchestral and keyboard suites
[p. 98]
Name Johann Sebastian Bach’s four musical sons.
Wilhelm Friedemann (1710-1784)
Carl Philipp Emanuel (1714-1788)
Johann Christoph (1732-1795)
Johann Christian (1735-1782)
[p. 98-99]
Who was Leopold Mozart?
father of Wolfgang Amadeus, b. 1756
wrote treatise A Treatise on the Fundamentals of Violin Playing, publ. 1756
[p. 91]
Who was Nahum Tate?
librettist for Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas
wrote B**rutus of Alba
[p. 73]
Jean-Philippe Rameau - dates & biographical info
1683-1764
born in Dijon
considered the greatest French composer of the late Baroque and one of the great music theorists of all time
brilliant organist and harpsichordist
[p. 92]
Who was Prince Leopold of Cothen?
Bach’s employer 1717-1723
[p. 87]
George Frideric Handel - dates & biographical info
1685-1759
German-born composer who had lived and worked in Italy before settling in London
Handel not only composed Italian operas, he also produced, directed, and publicized their performances.
His legendary temper is well-documented in vivid accounts of disputes with less than cooperative singers. In one such occurrence, Handel lifted famous soprano Francesca Cuzzoni and almost threw her out a window because she refused to sing an aria as written.
[p. 76]
Henry Purcell - genres & titles
- Sacred vocal - including anthems, hymns, Te Deum, Jubilate
- Opera - Dido and Aeneas
- Dramatic - King Arthur; The Fairy Queen; Abdelazar
- Solo songs - over 100 secular songs, including If Music Be the Food of Love; Sweeter than Roses; Bess of Bedlam
- Keyboard - including 8 suites for harpsichord, dances, and organ music
- Orchestral - ensemble sonatas and works for viol consort
[p. 76]
Describe the musical contributions of Claudio Monteverdi.
embraced elements of Baroque style such as figured bass, major-minor tonality, monody, and “doctrine of the affections,” while still maintaining respect for the traditions of Renaissance polyphony
used chromaticism as an expressive device
used word painting in madrigals and operas
deepened the relationship between text and music; sought to depict the text more clearly
increased emotional intensity through the use of stile concitato
expanded the role of instruments to create moods and define characters
specified instrumentation in his scores, contributing to the development of orchestration
differentiated between recitative and aria style in later operas
increased the role of ensembles
established the love duet
[p. 72]
Name 4 members of the Florentine Camerata.
- Giulio Caccini - singer and composer
- Jacopo Peri - singer and composer
- Vincenzo Galilei - composer, theorist, and father of Galileo Galilei
- Count Giovanni de’ Bardi
[p. 66]
Who wrote the da capo aria “Nel profondo cieco mondo” from Orlando furioso?
Antonio Vivaldi
[p. 76]
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach - dates & biographical info
1710-1784
son of J. S. Bach
brilliant organist, held distinguished posts in Dresden & Halle
renowned for his improvisational skills
composed numerous solo keyboard works, concertos, organ fugues, chamber music, symphonies, sacred cantatas
[p. 98]
Who was Senesino?
castrato who sang the title role of Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto on opening night
1686-1758
[p. 76]
Jean-Philippe Rameau - genres & titles
Who was Giulio Caccini?
member of the Florentine Camerata
singer and composer
co-wrote L’Euridice - the oldest surviving opera - with Jacopo Peri
wrote Le Nuove Musiche in 1602
composed solo song “Amarilli mia bella”
[p. 66]
Domenico Scarlatti - musical contribution to sonata form
1685-1757
composed 500+ single-movement sonatas for harpsichord
Esercizi per gravicembalo (Exercises for Harpsichord)
sonatas resemble etudes: each presents at least one recurring technical challenge
virtuosic: rapid passagework, arpeggiated figures, wide leaps, hand crossings, repeated notes
most are in binary or rounded binary form, foreshadowing elements of Classical sonata form
[p. 98]
George Frideric Handel - genres & titles
- Operas - including Rinaldo; Giulio Cesare; Serse; Orlando
- Oratorios - including Messiah; Judas Maccabeus; Israel in Egypt
- Sacred vocal - Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day; Te Deum
- Keyboard - suites for harpsichord, including Suite No. 5 in E Major (contains “The Harmonious Blacksmith” variations); organ concertos
- Orchestral - suites (Water Music; Music for the Royal Fireworks); concerti grossi; organ concertos
[p. 98]
Who was Vincenzo Galilei?
member of the Florentine Camerata
composer, theorist
father of Galileo Galilei
[p. 66]
Claudio Monteverdi - dates & biographical info
1567-1643
served as music director for the Duke of Mantua and Maestro di cappella at the Basilica of San Marco in Venice
most important composer of early Italian opera
[p. 68]
Claudio Monteverdi - genres & titles
- Madrigals - over 250 in nine books, including Ohime, se tanto amate (Book 4), Cruda Amarilli (Book 5), and Zefiro torna (Book 9)
- Operas - L’Orfeo; L’Arianna; Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria; and L’incoronazione di Poppea
- Sacred vocal - masses, magnificats, and Vespers
[p. 72]
Johann Sebastian Bach - dates & biographical info
1685-1750
best known as an organist during his lifetime
held several church positions in his lifetime, which gave him the opportunity to compose new cantatas for each Sunday’s service
deep religious faith
employed by Prince Leopold of Cothen from 1717-1723
[p. 80, 87. 90]
Johann Christian Bach - dates & biographical info
1735-1782
son of J. S. Bach
spent his last 20 years in London; historians frequently refer to him as: “the London Bach” or “the English Bach”
composed a large body of music, including keyboard works, chamber music, symphonies, and operas
shaped the Classical concerto
befriended the young Mozart and exerted a strong musical influence over him
[p. 99]
Who was Salomo Franck?
librettist for Bach’s Cantata No. 80 - Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott
