ch. 7 music from the early 19th century (1815-1850) Flashcards
the Industrial Revolution
a revolution in Europe; the invention of the steam engine, locomotives for trains, development of nightlife, building of massive structures such as the Eiffel tower. people moved from the countryside to the city to be factory workers. three urban social classes: the bourgeoisie, the capitalists (factory owners), the proletariat (laborers)
Romanticism
during the early 19th century, it referred to expressions in literature, music, and painting of an artist’s interior experiences of passion, restlessness, longing, and striving
who composed “Una voce poco fa”?
Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
* he wrote the opera buffa “Il barbiere di Siviglia”, from which the song “Una voce poco fa” comes from
how does it work? (una voce poco fa)
p. 175
double aria
an aria performed in 2 parts
what are the two parts of a double aria called
cantabile and cabaletta
coloratura
coloring; a style of singing that displays ornamental creativity and virtuosity
criticisms of Rossini
- self plagiarism
- musical criticisms of the richness of the orchestra
- lack of text painting -> could not represent emotions, superficial
what did Rossini view the goal of his operas as?
to offer musical delight, rather than represent emotions
piano
a stringed zither no which 88 keys are attached to hammers, which strike the strings
* a successor to the harpsichord
who composed “Waltz in C-sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2”?
Frederic Chopin (1810-1849); he composed it in 1847
waltz
a ballroom dance for couples in triple meter
how does it work? (“Waltz in C-sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2”)
p. 188
rubato
robbed time; a slight lengthening of certain beats and a slight shortening of others
accelerando
speeding up the tempo
key elements of Chopin’s Romantic piano music
- big chords
- dynamic shifts
- piano music
- really short pieces
- did not name his instrumental works beyond the genre + opus number
- expression of innermost feeling, improvisation, musical nationalism (Poland), romantic themes
stylistic elements of Chopin’s music?
- fluctuating tempos, rubato (robbed time)
- use of piano pedal to create a watery, dream-like experience
- new, intricate harmonies that are complex
how was banjo brought to North America?
Enslaved Africans brought the concept of the banjoy during the 17th century and recreated it in North America. White musicians adopted it for use in minstrel shows
banjo
a fretted, long-necked plucked lute with 4 strings running the length of the neck and a fifth, shorter string running halfway up the neck
* descendent of the “ekonting” from West Africa
blackface minstrelsy
highly derogatory theatrical performance
* performed in blackface
* comedy, music, tricks, parody of African-Americans
* precursor to Broadway
* developed in predominantly urban-class, commercial working zones where interracial interaction was common
typical characters of minstrelsy
Jim Crow, Mr. Tambo, Zip Coon, Mammy
ballad
a short song that tells a story
Stephen Collins Foster
- 1826-1841
- considered the first important composer of American popular song
- produced ~200 songs
- freelancer
Stephen Collins Foster’s compositions
- heard in minstrel shows, saloons, theater productions, variety shows, band concerts
- success from social + technological factors
- songs performed by minstrel troupes on tour
- sheet music publishing business expanded
- rapid growth of public music education
Ernest Hogan (1865-1909)
- African American, from Kentucky
- toured as a comedian + minstrel performer in blackface
- one of the founders of ragtime, but he also wrote minstrel songs
