Chapter 41

Question 1

Enlightenment

Answer 1

a philosophical, scientific, and political movement that dominated18th century thought, the church or court weren’t in charge anymore, instead democratic institutions were, 1730-1790, 60 year period

Question 2

Les philosophes

Answer 2

group of French freethinkers who wrote the 28 volume Encyclopedia, included Diderot (1713-1784), Rousseau (1712-1778), and Voltaire (1694-1778), told others about the principles of social justice, equality, religious tolerance (don’t argue/have war over religion), and freedom of speech

Question 3

Galant style

Answer 3

18th century music, graceful, light in texture, and symmetrical in melodic structure

Question 4

Faustina Bordini

Answer 4

prima donna of the age, very expensive soprano

Question 5

prima donna

Answer 5

leading lady

Question 6

Pietro Metastasio

Answer 6

The principal librettist for 18th century opera seria, worked with Hasse for 30 operas, wrote librettie for 400 operas, was great at making poetic drama

Question 7

Coloratura

Answer 7

soprano voice

Question 8

Comic opera

Answer 8

direct type of musical theater that made use of comic characters, dealt with everyday social issues, and emphasized values more in step with those of the Enlightenment middle class

Question 9

Ballad

Answer 9

a traditional, usually strophic, song that tells a lengthy story

Question 10

Ballad opera

Answer 10

a comic opera using re-texted ballads and spoken dialogue rather than recitative

Question 11

Opera buffa

Answer 11

Italian comic opera

Question 12

Intermezzo

Answer 12

musical diversion between the acts of the opera or play

Question 13

La Guerre des Bouffons

Answer 13

disagreement over Italian and French musical style, off and on for a couple years debated whether old or new style of opera was better

Question 14

Opera comique

Answer 14

French comic opera with everyday people and spoken dialogue

Question 15

Reform opera

Answer 15

combines Italian and French traditions, Italian lyricism and the dramatic expression of the French

Question 16

Obbligato recitative

Answer 16

also called accompanied recitative, recitative with an orchestral accompaniment

Question 17

When is “The Enlightenment”?

Answer 17

1730-1790

Question 18

Why is the enlightenment important?

Answer 18

It switched everybody’s thinking. The church and the court weren’t in charge of everything anymore.

Question 19

What was the enlightenment’s effect on art, society, France?

Answer 19

Les philosophes contributed a lot to every aspect of life. This included the arts. This time allowed music to leave the church behind them and be able to make their own rules. It gave more freedom to musical advancement. Both the American (1776) and the France (1789) revolution began during this time.

Question 20

Explain opera seria.

Answer 20

good triumphs over evil, included no comedy, praises the king, mostly private performances, includes intermezzos, sung only in Italian

Question 21

What is in an intermezzo?

Answer 21

part in the middle of acts, characters on stage that don’t have parts, 10 minutes each, 2-4 characters, started around 1700, in opera seria, Pergolesi made them popular

Question 22

Why didn’t they include comedy in opera seria?

Answer 22

no room for it and not the right topic for it

Question 23

What are Pietro Metastasio’s dates? And who was he?

Answer 23

1698-1782, librettist, wrote the libretto of Cleofide

Question 24

What kind of roles do castrati sing?

Answer 24

younger people

Question 25

What kind of roles do basses and tenors sing?

Answer 25

fathers or authority figures

Question 26

What are Johann Hasse’s dates?

Answer 26

1699-1783

Question 27

Ballad opera

Answer 27

spoken dialogue, usually about common people, has retexted ballads or popular songs

Question 28

opera buffa

Answer 28

all singing, Italian, male lead was a comic bass instead of a castrata

Question 29

Opera comique

Answer 29

had retexted popular songs, all singing, France

Question 30

Singspiel

Answer 30

has spoken dialogue, means singing play, focused on supernatural, Germany

Question 31

Explain comic opera.

Answer 31

sung in native tongue, made fun of aristocrats, about middle class, characters are known, included actors who could sing

Question 32

Pergolesi’s dates?

Answer 32

1710-1736

Question 33

What is reform opera?

Answer 33

simplified plot, less characters, more restrained vocal style, chorus was more important, orchestra is more important, and dance is a dramatic function

Question 34

Gluck’s dates? Contributions?

Answer 34

1714-1787, 45 operas, created reform opera