Fine Arts Flashcards
Acappella
Choral singing performed without instruments
Abstract art
It explores the relationships of forms and colors in the twentieth century
Abstract expressionism
A school of art from 1940 to 1960, large scale non representational.
Willem De Kooning, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko
Acropolis
Once center of Athenian life, now famous ruins including Parthenon. In Greek means “high city”
Adagio
A very slow musical tempo
Allegro
A brisk lively musical tempo. Italian for “cheerful”
“America the beautiful “
An American patriotic hymn “ o beautiful for spacious skies”
American gothic
A painting by Grant Wood 20th century
Armstrong, Louis
A twentieth century African American jazz trumpet and singer “hello Dolly” “ it’s a wonderful world “
Art for art’s sake
A slogan meaning the beauty of the fine arts is reason enough for pushing them
Audubon, John James
A 19th century American artist and naturalist. Book “ the birds of America “
Bach, Johann Sebastian
An 18th century German composer. Best known works “six Branden Burry concerts “
Ballad
A simple narrative song or a narrative poem suitable for singing
Ballet
Theatrical entertainment. Classic examples: swan lake, nutcracker
Modern examples: the rite of spring and fancy free
Banjo
A stringed musical instrument. Used in folk, blue grass
Barouque
A period in the arts from 1600 to 1750. Elaborated ornamentation and effort to create dramatic effects
Basilica
A large Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox church. Basilica is built with several circular structure, the apse.
Bassoon
The second largest and second lowest pitched of wood winds.
Baton
A stick used by some conductors of choruses. It indicates the tempo
Bauhaus
A German school of applied arts of early 20th century
Beale Street
A street in African-American section of Memphis, Tennessee. Famous for its blues music. “Beale street blues”
Beatles
A rockNroll signing group from Liverpool. In late 1960’s beatlemania happened.
Beethoven, Ludwig Van
German composer of the late 18th and early 19th century. Classical and romantic music. Important: moonlight somata. 3,5,9 symphonies
Benny, Jack
20th century American comedian. Jokes about his age, stinginess and in ability to play violin
Bergman, Ingmar
A 20th century Swedish filmmaker. Slow paced, highly symbolic.
Wild strawberries, the virgin spring, cries and whispers, scenes from a marriage.
Bernstein, Leonard
20th century American composer well known for “west side story”
The birth of nation
Silent movie in 1915 by B.W. Griffith. Considered highly racist
Bizet, George
A well known composer known for his opera, Carmen
Bluegrass
A kind of folk music for guitar, banjo, violin + improvisation and rapid notes
Blues
Kind of jazz that evolved from African American spiritual music. Often expresses worry and depression.
Bohemian
A term for stereotypical way of life for artists and intellectuals. They prefer their art or learning to lesser goods. Unconditional in habits, dress and morals
Bosch, Hieronymus
A Dutch painter of late 15th century early 16th century. Allegorical religious works like the garden of earthly delights. Forerunner of surrealism.
Botticelli, Sandro
Italian painter late 15th early 16th . “The birth of Venus”
Brahms, Johannes
A 19th century German romantic composer. “A German requiem” and “Lullaby and good night”
Brass
Musical instrument made of brass and played by blowing into a small cup shaped mouth piece
Brooklyn Bridge
Suspension bridge late 19th century world’s longest suspension at the time.
“Could sell the BB” “tries to sell the BB” “would buy the BB”
Bunker, Archie
A character in 1970’s tv series, “all in the family “ a parody of close-mindedness in Americans but many made him their hero.
Capital
In architecture the top portion of the column “doric” “ionic” “corinthian”
Capitol
Large domed building in DC congress meets.
Carmen
Opera by Bizet. A soldier helps and he stabs her because she left him for a bullfighter
