Chapter 13: Vocal Music in the Classical Era Flashcards
Who were some of the leading opera composers of the classical era?
Johann Adolph Hasse (1699-1783), Baldassare Galuppi (1706-1785), Willibald Gluck (1714-1787), Niccòlo Jommelli (1714-1774), Tomasso Traetta (1727-1779), Niccòlo Piccinni (1741-1813), Domenico Cimarosa (1749-1801), Antonio Salieri (1750-1825), and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791).
What is Opera Buffa?
- Also known as comic opera.
- Occurred as early as the 1720’s
- Subject matter was humorous rather than serious.
- Libretto centered on everyday characters rather than heroes, rulers, or gods.
- Singers included basses but not castrati.
- Gave more emphasis to ensemble singing.
- Avoided da capo arias & vocal improvisation opportunities
- Melodies were simple & straightforward
Describe “La serva padrona” by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi.
- “The Maidservant as Mistress”
- Featured intermezzo
- Written in 1733 & first performed in Naples
- Tells story of a maidservent who becomes a mistress of the household in which she has been employed.
- Two singers: Uberto (a bass) and Serpina (a soprano)
- The orchestra consists of string and basso continuo
- Homophonic texture w/ voice part doubled by orchestra
- Points toward lighter style of mid-18th century
- Less monolithic approach to musical expression.
Who was André Grétry (1741-1813) ?
- “the French Pergolesi”
- The most notable french composer to incorparate elements of comic opera into their works.
Who were notable composers to reform opera?
Jommelli, Traetta, and Gluck.
What are some characteristics that distinguish reform opera from opera seria?
- no da capo arias
- little or no opportunity for vocal improvisation or virtuosic displays of vocal agility or power
- no long melismas
- a more predominantly syllabic setting of the text to make the words more intelligible
- far less repetition of text within an aria
- a blurring of the distinction between recitative and aria, declamatory and lyrical passages, with altogether less recitiative
- simpler, more flowing melodic lines
- an overture that is linked by theme or mood to the ensuing action
- more prominence for the chorus, giving it more important role commenting on the events unfolding on stage
What was special about Mozart’s operas?
- Created psychologically and believable complex characters
- Synthesized and transcended the boundaries of buffa, seria, and other operatic styles.
What is intermezzo?
A work intended for performance between the acts of a larger (serious) opera.
Why was opera buffa controversal?
Opponents considered it an affront to established traditions.
What is the War of the Buffoons (Guerre des Bouffons) ?
- Ignited by debut of Pergolesi’s La serva padrona in Paris in 1752.
- Provided an opportunity for competing social groups to jockey for influence and a pretext for some to question authority without directly confronting it.
- French traditionalists wanted to uphold tragédie lyrique
- Others wanted to use opera buffa to promote a new, lighter style of musical theater in France.
What is the Quarrel of the Gluckists and Piccinnists?
- In the late 1770s the debate that pitted Italian against French culture.
- Featured Gluck and Piccinni who were both foreigners.
- Saw Gluck as continuing French ‘tragédie lyrique’ while Piccinni was preceived to represent Italian tradition of opera seria.