Exam 2 - Terms

Question 1

Oratorio

Answer 1

Opera based, Virtuoso singing, religious setting, sang in concert form

Question 2

Ritornello

Answer 2

Idea presented at the beginning of a piece, repeated throughout

Question 3

Dance suite

Answer 3

(Baroque) group of dances in the same key

Question 4

Sonata form

Answer 4

l:A:l l:B A’:lpg 185 in the
A = exposition
B = development
A’ = Recapitulation

Question 5

Exposition

Answer 5

first presentation of the themes, 1st, and 2nd, ends with cadence theme

Question 6

Cadence theme

Answer 6

final conclusive theme

Question 7

Bridge

Answer 7

transition between first and second themes, modulates

Question 8

Development

Answer 8

develop themes, break them down

Question 9

Recapitulation

Answer 9

review of what was presented

Question 10

rondo form

Answer 10

resents a theme and restates it with “episodes” in between – ABACADA, usually 6/8

Question 11

Minuet form

Answer 11

(classical)
Minuet l:a:l l:b a’:l
Trio l:c:l l:d c’:l
Minuet aba’

Question 12

Concerto grosso

Answer 12

a concerto with 2+ soloists

Question 13

theme & variations

Answer 13

a theme is presented, then varied by extension, ornamentation etc

Question 14

Opera seria

Answer 14

(Late Baroque) opera designed to stir emotions, story from ancient history, sang by solo sopranos, castrati

Question 15

Coloratura

Answer 15

fast runs, high notes, cadenzas, virtuoso singing for the sake of it

Question 16

String quartet

Answer 16

chamber music, made of 2 violins, 1 viola and 1 cello, more intimate

Question 17

Castrato

Answer 17

Man who was castrated before puberty so he could sing high, seen as unnatural by some

Question 18

Passacaglia

Answer 18

set of variations on a short theme in the bass

Question 19

ciaccona / chaconne

Answer 19

like passacaglia, variations in the bass

Question 20

basso continuo

Answer 20

set of chords played continuously in the bass (Baroque)

Question 21

trio sonata

Answer 21

sonata for three instruments plus continuo

Question 22

symphony

Answer 22

large orchestral piece with several movements

Question 23

accompanied vs. “dry” recitative

Answer 23

dry is accompanied by only a continuo

Question 24

form

Answer 24

the “shape” of a piece of music

Question 25

opera buffa

Answer 25

Italian comic opera

Question 26

Singspiel

Answer 26

popular form of opera, known in England as Ballad opera

Question 27

fugue subject

Answer 27

main theme of the fugue

Question 28

Classical concerto

Answer 28

a Piece written for a soloist with orchestral accompaniment

Question 29

solo sonata

Answer 29

sonata for one soloist plus continuo

Question 30

counter-subject

Answer 30

the second counter-idea in a fugue

Question 31

cadenza

Answer 31

solo virtuosic phrase, usually non metered, only soloist

Question 32

movement

Answer 32

a section of a symphony, sometimes in a different key or with a different form

Question 33

da capo aria

Answer 33

set up by a recitative, “from the top” ABA’ with second A improvised

Question 34

buffo bass

Answer 34

comical character in an opera buffa, usually a commoner or parental figure

Question 35

stretto

Answer 35

(fugue) overlapping entrances of the subject in different voices simultaneously

Question 36

cantata

Answer 36

made of several movements for solo voices, maybe chorus, Categorized as secular or church

Question 37

operatic ensemble

Answer 37

a number sang by one or more people, allowed composers to show off more than one person and give each character more emotion

Question 38

double exposition form

Answer 38

exposition played by entire orchestra, then repeated with soloist

Question 39

rounded binary form

Answer 39

ABA’

Question 40

binary form

Answer 40

ABA