Exam 2 Flashcards
Baroque Era
1600-1750
Grandure, opulance, over the top
ex: st Peter’s church in Vienna
Patrons(rich people who commissioned artists to create pieces.
counter reformation- catholic pushback against reformation
absolute monarchy Kind made giant palace from taxes, big palace =propaganda about his power
What was the purpose of music in the baroque era
drama.
through the use of dynamics, tempo, media, and texture
contrast created drama (loud-soft, fast-slow, vocal-instrumental, solo-ensemble)
The genre of opera
sung play
begins in Italy which was the artsy modern place in the baroque era
orchestra made of strings and harpsichord
instrumentation, orchestration, basso continuo,
Singing styles in operas:
- recitatives
- arias
instrumentation
specific instruments chosen for a piece of music
orchestration
way a composer uses instruments in a piece of music
instruments of the baroque
string family:
-violin, viola, cello, bass (satb)
harmony instruments:
-lute-round guitar
- harpsichord/organ
Basso continuo
Baseline+harmony instrument used in every piece except solos
homophony
melody w/ accompaniment
Homophony is a musical texture where one main melody is supported by other parts that provide harmony. The other parts may play single notes or a more complex accompaniment. Homophony is characterized by:
Predominant melody: One part, usually the highest, tends to be the most prominent
Little rhythmic differentiation: There is little rhythmic differentiation between the parts
Chord structure: The melody is supported by a chord structure underneath
Same rhythm: The melody and harmony must use the same rhythm
beat
division of musical time into regular recurring units
meter
division of beat into regular recurring patterns (measures)
tempo
speed of the beat
Aria
song like
memorable
accompanied by orchestra
strong meter
soliloquy(an act of speaking one’s thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers)
expresses feelings
recitative
speech like
not memorable
free rhythms
accompanied by basso continuo
dialogue/action that advances the story
mode
major vs minor
every harmonic unit has a mode, the middle note of the unit determines the mode
Doctrine of Affections
Trying to convey an emotion as the goal of an opera
Dido and Aeneas
Purcell
“queen and prince”
based off of Virgil’s Aeneid
1689 written in English
shipwreck, fall in love, have a family, he leaves to continue his journey, she gets sad and kills herself
1st perfromed for a girl’s school in Chelsea
Subgenres of opera
overtures, recitatives, chorus, arias
Dido and Aeneis ACT 3 Dido’s Lament
Aria
When I am laid in earth
sad/depression, resignation, orchestra+solo voice,
minor mode,
tripled meter,
binary form AABB
text painting: laid and wrongs have a sobbing rhythm, remember me is isolated and repeated emphasizinf urgency and seriousness
ground bass: repeating bass line
bass move chromatically down
Vivaldi
Venice
he taught young female orphans how to play music, and assembled orchestras of them
called red priest
4 Seasons Movement 1 Spring
Vivaldi
concerto
major mode
ritornello form
duple meter
fast/allegro tempo
program music-tells a story without words
birdsong imitated with violins, thunder and lightning, babbling brook
birds, storm, birds
Concerto
work for an orchestra concerned with the following. contrasts:
-ensemble vs solo
-ritornellos vs episodes
-Slow vs fast tempo
Basic Baroque Orchestra
Strings+basso continuo
Program Music
instrumental musci that seeks to convey and extramusical idea. (text painting without the text, tells a story)
Ritornello form
alternates between ritornello and episode
ritornello=melody played by basso continuo and orchestra
episode=other music, less melodic, more busy, played by soloist and basso continuo
George Frideric Handel
1st composer where his works were beloved long after he died
born in Germany, patron sent him to Italy to study music
then he went to London to write for the royal family and stays there
organ virtuoso
traveler
Messiah
Messiah (1741)
an oratorio
Charles Jennens: assembled the libretto (script for an opera or oratorio): he didn’t write it, he assembled it from the bible adding his own poetic license.
Handel composed the music to the libretto
24 days 254 pages of music quick but avg for this time period: he felt he was inspired by God
oratorio
like an opera but more like a concert, sacred but performed in a theatre during lent not a church, more choruses than operas,
included recitatives, arias, and choruses
Structure of Handel’s Messiah
3 parts:
-christmas
-easter
-final judgment
Messiah “Rejoice Greatly”
subgenre: Soprano Aria
major mode
duple meter
allegro fast tempo
ABA ternary form
genre: oratorio
source of text= Zechariah 9: 9-10
Structure:
orchestra
A- major, medium tempo, melismas on “rejoice”
orchestra
B - contrast, minor, slower but still fast tempo, ritardando
orchestra
A- same as first A
orchestra
Messiah “Hallelujah”
subgenre: chorus
glorifying christ’s victory over death and sin
major mode
duple meter
allegro tempo
Hallelujah - homophony: same rhythms with harmonies
For the lord god omnipotent reigneth - monophony
hallelujah polyphony
festive baroque orchestra (to symbolize the rejoicing)
added instruments: baroque trumpet, timpani(kettle drums)
sequence
sequence
short melody is repeated at progressively higher or lower pitch levels
Bach
born in and never left Germany
organ virtuoso
born same year as Handel
devout
Provided music for local churches and taught music at a local university
came from a musical family
Cantata No.5 Wachet Aut:
Bach
“Sleepers awake!”
about 10 virgins
triple meter
major mode
AAB Bar form
Genre: Chorale Cantata
only need to know: 1st Movement Chorale Fantasia
cantata
cousin to opera
several movements for choir, solists, and orchestra
has choruses, recitatives, and arias
sacred subject, but much shorter than an oratorio
chorale
germna-lutheran hymn
many have Bar Form AAB
Chorale FAntasia of Cantata 140 Wachet Aut
Bach
two main components: orchestral melody and chorale melody
orchestral melody
violins>oboe>violins> oboe, etc.
3 section melody:
1. march/procession=bridegroom’s arrival
2. stop and start rhythms=virgins’ excitement and impatience
3. fast notes=virgins’ run to meet him
chorale melody:
AAB text pattern
9 phrases that each end in a sustained note
orchestral ritornello between each phase
r1r2r3 REPEAT then r4r5r6r7r8r9r
always sung by supranos+ imitative polyphony follows by Alto Tenor and Base
Orchestral Suite no. 3 Aire and Gigue
Bach
secular
suite =a set of dances, but BAch’s dances are stylized so they are meant to be listened not danced to.
Aire by Bach
major mode, slow tempo, basic baroque orchestra, duple meter, binary form AABB, violin solo+walking bass-steady rhythm. violing plays long, emotional, melodic things that are meant to mimic a vocal role
Gigue by Bach
festive baroque orchestra (pboes, trumpets, tympani, major mode, duple meter, quick tempo, AABB binary form
alternates between trumpets/drums(festive) and strings(not so festive) to create contrast
“Little” Fugue in G minor
Bach
minor mode
duple meter
1 organ
solemn
fugue-imitative work based on a single subject (the melody keeps coming back)
Exposition: (SATB= registers on the organ)
S subject, other stuff»»»»»»»
A…………..subject, other stuff»»»>
T……………………….subject, other stuff>
B…………………………………..subject
subject statements and episodes to contrast
Purcell
Dido and Aeneis
from England
worked for the crown
organ virtuoso
