George Bizet Musical Style and Contributions

Question 1

What genres did Bizet focus on?

Answer 1

Bizet contributed to broad range of genres

but mainly focused on opera

Question 2

What elements in French opera was Bizet influenced by?

Answer 2

grandeur and pageantry of 19th-century French opera

works of
Gounod,
Saint-Saëns,
Massenet

Question 3

Where did Bizet get his inspiration of signature motives in his operas from?

Answer 3

Wagner and Verdi

Question 4

How did Bizet suggest local colors in exotic settings?

Answer 4

local colors suggested through
dance rhythms,
evocative orchestration

Question 5

How did Bizet change the orchestra?

Answer 5

new instruments (saxophone)
enlarged size (particularly percussion)

Question 6

What were Bizet’s harmonies like?

Answer 6

rich with chromaticism

juxtaposed major and minor keys (for drama or irony)

Question 7

What experimentation did Bizet do with the choir?

Answer 7

chorus into music

blending the chorus into solo aria

Question 8

What experimentation did Bizet do aside from the choir?

Answer 8

He experimented with musical structures

Question 9

When was Bizet alive?

Answer 9

1838 - 1875