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An Incomplete Education > Chapter 6: Music > Flashcards

Chapter 6: Music Flashcards

1
Q

What is the significance of Josquin Desprez’s ‘La déploration sur la mort d’Ockeghem’?

A

It marks the transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, honoring Ockeghem and showcasing a shift to clearer phrases and modern styles.

‘Requiem aeternam’ serves as its cantus firmus.

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2
Q

Why is Johann Sebastian Bach considered the greatest Baroque composer?

A

He brilliantly combined the concertante style and free-flowing counterpoint, particularly in the ‘Mass in B Minor’.

The Mass is a compilation of various forms including solo arias and complex fugues.

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3
Q

What characterizes Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 in C Major (‘Jupiter’)?

A

It features balanced themes, sonata form, and is noted for its congeniality and precision, representing the peak of classical form.

The symphony is known for its clarity and poise.

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4
Q

What makes Beethoven’s ‘Hammerklavier’ Sonata notable?

A

It is an obsessive, lengthy work that derives all themes from a single idea: descending thirds, while honoring the sonata form.

The sonata is recognized for its difficulty and concentration.

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5
Q

What was Chopin’s contribution to piano music?

A

He was a harmonics pioneer and concentrated on miniatures, completing twenty-four preludes in all major and minor keys.

His preludes are characterized by their brevity and emotional depth.

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6
Q

What is the primary theme of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto?

A

The concerto depicts a soloist’s virtuosic battle with the orchestra, culminating in a triumphant partnership.

It features a mix of tearful melodies and showcasing violin techniques.

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7
Q

What is unique about Schoenberg’s ‘Pierrot Lunaire’?

A

It features Sprechstimme and a broken consort of instruments, marking a significant development in twentieth-century chamber music.

The work combines song and speech elements in its performance.

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8
Q

What was the public’s reaction to the premiere of Stravinsky’s ‘The Rite of Spring’?

A

The premiere incited a riot due to its unconventional rhythms and themes, showcasing its intricate and passionate nature.

The piece is characterized by its pagan elements and innovative orchestration.

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9
Q

What do Bartok’s six string quartets represent in music history?

A

They exemplify the rigorous form and counterpoint of the string quartet, showcasing Bartok’s development from eclecticism to a unique Hungarian voice.

Bartok’s quartets utilize dissonances and folk rhythms.

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10
Q

What is the structure of Terry Riley’s ‘In C’?

A

It consists of fifty-three motifs played in C, allowing for a collaborative performance without a conductor, resulting in a rich, pulsing sound.

The work is significant in the minimalist music movement.

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11
Q

What are the four main sections of a symphony orchestra?

A

The sections are: Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion.

The string section is typically the largest and most continuously played.

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12
Q

True or False: The brass section in an orchestra is generally used extensively in performances.

A

False.

The brass section acts as an amplifier and is used sparingly.

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13
Q

Fill in the blank: The ‘Mass in B Minor’ by Bach is considered a virtual ______ encyclopedia.

A

Bach

Each chunk of text in the Mass is set according to Bach’s interpretation.

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14
Q

What is the largest and most important section of a symphony orchestra?

A

Strings

Includes first and second violins, violas, violoncellos, double basses, and sometimes a harp.

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15
Q

What is the role of the woodwinds in a symphony orchestra?

A

Add color and sometimes carry the melody

Includes instruments like piccolo, flutes, clarinets, oboes, cor anglais, and bassoons.

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16
Q

Which section of the orchestra acts as the muscle or amplifier?

A

Brass

Includes French horns, cornets, trumpets, trombones, and tuba.

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17
Q

What does the percussion section provide in an orchestra?

A

The beat

Includes timpani, bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, triangles, and assorted instruments.

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18
Q

What is the meaning of the term ‘grave’ in music tempo?

A

Solemn

It is one of the slowest tempos.

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19
Q

Fill in the blank: ‘allegro’ means _______.

A

cheerful

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20
Q

What does ‘fortissimo’ indicate in terms of volume?

A

Very loud

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21
Q

What is ‘accelerando’ in music?

A

Getting faster

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22
Q

What does ‘crescendo’ signify?

A

Getting louder

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23
Q

What does ‘a cappella’ refer to?

A

Vocal music without instrumental accompaniment

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24
Q

What is an ‘arpeggio’?

A

A broken chord played in succession

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25
What does 'cadenza' mean in the context of a concerto?
A passage where the solo instrument plays without the orchestra
26
What does 'cantabile' indicate?
In a flowing style
27
What is a 'coda' in music?
A concluding section
28
Fill in the blank: 'legato' means _______.
Bound together
29
What does 'pizzicato' direct a musician to do?
Pluck the strings with fingers
30
What does 'rubato' indicate?
Play around with a given tempo
31
What characterizes a 'scherzo'?
A sped-up form of the minuet
32
What does 'sfz' stand for in music notation?
Sforzando, meaning forced emphasis
33
What does 'staccato' mean?
Detached or played in a sharp manner
34
What is 'tremolo'?
A trembling effect from rapid repetition of a note
35
Who was Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina?
A composer known for masses, motets, and hymns
36
What group did Francis Poulenc belong to?
The Six, a group of young composers in Paris
37
Fill in the blank: Sergei Prokofiev is known for being _______.
Melodious but not bland
38
What is the significance of Henry Purcell in music history?
Virtually the only pre-twentieth-century English composer of note
39
What is atonality?
Music that lacks a tonal center
40
What does tonality refer to in music?
The organization of music around a home note or tonic
41
Who is credited with the invention of the twelve-tone row?
Arnold Schoenberg
42
What does 'dodecaphonic' music refer to?
Twelve-tone music
43
What is a key characteristic of twelve-tone music?
Equal importance to all twelve tones of the chromatic scale
44
What does 'diminuendo' mean?
Getting softer
45
What does 'tempo' refer to in music?
The speed at which a piece is played
46
What is the twelve-tone form?
A highly intellectual way of exerting control over chaotic elements of atonal compositions.
47
What does serial music encompass?
It includes twelve-tone and atonal forms, aiming for absolute control over all musical elements.
48
Who composed the string sextet entitled Transfigured Night?
Arnold Schoenberg in 1899.
49
Who were the chief disciples of Schoenberg?
Alban Berg and Anton von Webern.
50
What is considered Schoenberg's masterpiece?
Pierrot Lunaire, composed in 1912.
51
What is the significance of Webern's Six Bagatelles?
It emphasizes silence as much as sound in very short works.
52
True or False: Schoenberg achieved the most success among the Big Three of atonality.
False.
53
Name one composer known for using unconventional materials in music.
John Cage.
54
What is John Cage's most famous silent piece?
4'33".
55
What did the atonality craze lead to by the mid-1970s?
A winding down of the movement as audiences felt bored and alienated.
56
Who are two composers that wrote less grating music while still in the atonal tradition?
Philip Glass and Steve Reich.
57
Who is considered the first musical genius of opera?
Claudio Monteverdi.
58
What genre of opera did Rossini's The Barber of Seville represent?
Opera buffa.
59
What are the three most popular operas from Verdi's middle period?
* Rigoletto * II Trovatore * La Traviata
60
Which composer is known for the operas Tosca, La Bohème, and Madame Butterfly?
Giacomo Puccini.
61
What is the significance of Richard Wagner in opera history?
He is considered opera's towering intellect and a Great Reformer.
62
Fill in the blank: The only really important pre-twentieth-century English composer is _______.
Henry Purcell.
63
What was Christoph Willibald von Gluck known for in opera?
He attempted to reform opera by streamlining the form.
64
What are the names of Mozart's three great Italian operas?
* Le Nozze di Figaro * Così fan tutte * Don Giovanni
65
What is the title of Beethoven's only opera?
Fidelio.
66
What is the defining characteristic of verismo in opera?
Gutter realism, often depicting everyday life and emotion.
67
Who are the three main composers of the Italian opera in the 19th century?
* Gioacchino Rossini * Vincenzo Bellini * Gaetano Donizetti
68
What are the two operas by Mozart mentioned in the text?
Abduction from the Seraglio and Die Zauberflote ## Footnote Die Zauberflote is often considered the most perfect opera ever written.
69
What is the significance of Beethoven's opera 'Fidelio'?
It took nine years to write, has structural problems, but is considered by admirers as the greatest opera ever written. ## Footnote It contrasts moralistic themes with the frivolity criticized in Mozart's works.
70
Define Wagnerian 'music drama'.
Aims at a union of all theatrical arts: poetry, drama, music, and stagecraft. ## Footnote Innovations include symphony-scale orchestration and the leitmotif.
71
What is a leitmotif?
An orchestral theme recurring throughout a work representing a particular character or idea.
72
Which Wagner opera is considered the most accessible?
Tannhäuser.
73
Which Wagner opera is considered the least accessible?
Parsifal.
74
Name the four-opera cycle by Wagner.
The Ring cycle.
75
Who is Richard Strauss?
Most popular composer of the turn of the century, known for sprinkling waltz tunes in his operas. ## Footnote Not to be confused with Johann Strauss.
76
What is Salome best remembered for?
A succès de scandale.
77
Identify the two operas by Alban Berg.
Wozzeck and Lulu.
78
What characterizes Alban Berg's operas?
Highly cerebral, avant-garde works with complex musical structures and themes of sinister sexuality.
79
Who is Giacomo Meyerbeer?
A German composer known for writing the most successful French operas of his time.
80
What is grand opera?
Epic, historical, and loaded with spectacle, often including ballet and massacres.
81
Which of Berlioz's operas is considered his 'gigantic masterpiece'?
Les Troyens.
82
Which opera by Gounod is still performed worldwide?
Faust.
83
What is Carmen by Bizet known for?
The most famous example of opera comique.
84
Who composed Dido and Aeneas?
Henry Purcell.
85
What distinguishes Handel's operas?
Beautiful music with lame dramas and highly formalized structures.
86
Name two well-known operas by Benjamin Britten.
Peter Grimes and Billy Budd.
87
What is unique about Douglas Moore's operas?
Explores American regionalism and roots.
88
What are two operas by Gian Carlo Menotti?
The Medium and The Consul.
89
Fill in the blank: Peter Grimes is an opera by _______.
Benjamin Britten.
90
Name one characteristic of Modest Moussorgsky's opera, Boris Godunov.
Considered uniquely Russian in its musical and dramatic originality.
91
What is the central theme of Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin?
Criticized for being 'too pretty' despite its moments of greatness.
92
Which Czech composer is known for the opera The Bartered Bride?
Bedrich Smetana.
93
What is the primary style of Leos Janáček's operas?
Lyrical, theatrical, and accessible.
94
Name one of the three best-known works of Leos Janáček.
Jenufa, Makropoulos Affair, or Cunning Little Vixen.
95
What is the theme of the opera 'The Devil and Daniel Webster' by Douglas Moore?
Based on a literary tall tale.
96
What is unique about Philip Glass's operas?
Predilection for hypnotic repetition and electronic technology.
97
What is the significance of the aria 'Spargi d'amaro pianto' from Lucia di Lammermoor?
Represents Lucia's descent into madness on her wedding day.
98
What does Tosca's aria 'Vissi d'arte' express?
Her dedication to love and art while under duress.
99
Fill in the blank: 'La donna è mobile' is an aria from _______.
Rigoletto.
100
What is the primary concern of the character Violetta in 'Sempre libera' from La Traviata?
Her internal conflict between love and freedom.
101
What is the central theme of the aria 'Casta Diva' from Norma?
Norma's invocation of peace amidst personal turmoil.
102
Who is the composer of 'Don Giovanni'?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
103
What does Norma invoke in her moment of craving peace?
The Moon ## Footnote Norma calls upon the Moon with the phrase 'Casta Diva' to seek tranquility.
104
In Fidelio, what role does the opponent's wife take on?
Jailkeeper's assistant ## Footnote She disguises herself in drag to overhear the governor's plot.
105
What does the character in La Bohème notice about the embroideress?
She seems a bit under the weather ## Footnote The poetic character observes her frozen hand, indicating her illness.
106
What themes are explored in Le Nozze di Figaro?
Sexual intrigue, sexual revenge, marital infidelity, breakdown of class system ## Footnote Cherubino expresses confusion about his hormones.
107
What is Don José's pledge in Carmen's 'Flower Song'?
To love Carmen despite her abandoning him ## Footnote He recalls the flower she threw him, which symbolizes his feelings.
108
What does the term 'Diva' refer to in opera?
A great lady of the opera, a legend ## Footnote It's the highest accolade given to a female singer.
109
Define 'Recitativo' in the context of opera.
Speechlike vocal sections used to advance the action ## Footnote It contrasts with lyrical sections like arias.
110
What does 'libretto' mean?
The text or lyrics of an opera ## Footnote It also includes a synopsis of the plot and often a translation.
111
What is 'Bel Canto'?
Beautiful singing, emphasizing vocal technique ## Footnote It dominated Italian opera in the 17th and 18th centuries.
112
What characterizes 'Coloratura' singing?
Elaborate ornamentation of the melodic line ## Footnote It requires exceptional speed and agility from the singer.
113
When was La Scala built?
1776 ## Footnote It is Italy's premier opera house and has a rich history.
114
What is the significance of Covent Garden in British opera?
It became prominent after World War II ## Footnote Known for its star-studded seasons and historical context.
115
What advantages does the Staatsoper in Vienna have?
Location, resident orchestra, generous subsidies ## Footnote It presents more operas annually than other houses.
116
What is Bayreuth known for?
Exclusively producing Wagnerian opera ## Footnote It was founded by Richard Wagner and is renowned for its innovative design.
117
What architectural style is the Palais Garnier known for?
Second Empire architecture ## Footnote It is considered one of the most sumptuous opera houses in the world.
118
What is the Palais Garnier known for?
Probably the most sumptuous opera house in the world and the biggest at its 1875 opening. ## Footnote Designed as a monument to Second Empire architecture by Charles Garnier.
119
What period marked the peak of the Palais Garnier?
Between 1885 and 1906. ## Footnote After this period, it went into a seventy-year decline.
120
What type of productions did the Palais Garnier host during its decline?
An endless string of shoddy productions complemented by second-rate singing.
121
How did l'Opéra regain its honor in the 1970s and early 1980s?
By becoming a showcase for experimental operas and innovative restagings of the classics.
122
When did the Paris Opéra relocate to the Opéra Bastille?
In 1989. ## Footnote The new hall was noted for its industrial-strength production facilities.
123
What is the Paris Opéra comprised of?
Both the Opéra Bastille and the Palais Garnier.
124
When was the original Metropolitan Opera House opened?
In 1883.
125
What prompted the founding of the Metropolitan Opera?
A group of wealthy businessmen were irritated because they couldn't get boxes at the Academy of Music.
126
Which notable figures performed at the Metropolitan Opera by the turn of the century?
* Caruso * Mahler * Toscanini
127
When did the Metropolitan Opera move to Lincoln Center?
In 1966.
128
What are some features of the new Metropolitan Opera theater?
* Raved acoustics * Huge backstage rehearsal and administrative rooms * State-of-the-art technical facilities
129
What is the New York City Opera often compared to?
The Metropolitan Opera, often referred to as Betty to the Met's Veronica.
130
What is one key piece of advice for first-time opera-goers?
Memorize the plot before you go.
131
What should you bring to an opera performance?
A libretto.
132
What is the etiquette regarding applause during an opera?
Don't clap until the people around you do.
133
What should you shout if you want to express enthusiasm at the end of an aria?
Bravo! for a man and Brava! for a woman.
134
What is the suggested attire for attending an opera?
Comfortable clothing, avoiding jeans if possible.
135
What opera is suggested for first-time attendees instead of Wagner?
Something by Puccini or Verdi.
136
Which opera is described as the world's most popular?
Carmen.
137
What is 'The Magic Flute' known for?
Being a spectacular fairy tale, written to please ordinary people.
138
What type of opera is 'Norma' classified as?
One of the greatest 'singer's operas.'

An Incomplete Education (13 decks)

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