Chapter 4 - Baroque Music Flashcards
concerto
a musical composition for an instrumental soloist or soloists and orchestra
opera
a staged musical drama for voices and orchestra. They are fully blocked and performed in costume with sets and utilize arias and recitatives.
recitative
musical dialogue accompanied by the basso continuo (in Baroque opera) - sylllabic
aria
a lyrical movement for solo voice in operas and oratorios with instrumental accompaniment; melismatic
basso continuo
continuous realization of harmony throughout a musical piece, usually by a harpsichord and/or cello.
program music
instrumental work associated with a story, event, or idea
antiphonal
a genre of sacred music featuring multiple choirs, or a choir that has been divided into different groups that can perform call and responses
overture
instrumental introduction to an opera or oratorio that includes snippets of the major themes
fugue
perfected by J.S. Bach during the Baroque period, it is a form written in an imitative contrapuntal style in multiple parts. It is based upon an original tune that is called the subject. The subject is then imitated and overlapped by the other parts, forming answers, countersubjects, strettos, and episodes.
suite
a multi-movement instrumental musical composition of Baroque music - usually in dance form
organ
“king of instruments” - keyboard that includes pedals and manuals connected to pipes and bellows
oratorio
a major work with religious or contemplative character for solo voices, chorus and orchestra. They do not utilize blocking, costumes, or scenery. Created as an alternative to opera during Lent.
stylized dance
a piece of music that sounds like a dance but was not designed for dancing. In other words, a stylized dance uses the distinct characteristics of a dance and would be recognizable as sounding like a dance but might be too long or too complicated to be danced to.
harpsichord
keyboard instrument whose strings are put into motion by pressing a key that facilitates the plucking of a string by quills of feathers
cantata
a religious or secular vocal form from the Baroque period. They have several movements and last for 15-30 minutes. They are performed without staging but may utilize narration, arias, recitatives, choruses and small vocal ensembles.
