Lesson 12 - Recitative and Aria

Question 0

Who were well known composers of operas?

Answer 0

Handel, Mozart, Verdi and Wagner

Question 1

What is an opera?

Answer 1

A story set to music with scenery and costumes. The characters are singers who act their parts. It is performed in an opera house.

Question 2

What is an oriatorio?

Answer 2

An opera without scenery, costumes and acting. It is generally based on sacred subject matter, and is performed in a concert hall or church

Question 3

Who were some well known oratorio composers?

Answer 3

Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn and Elgar

Question 4

What is recitative?

Answer 4

Sung speech

Question 5

What is the most important part of recitative?

Answer 5

The words

Question 6

To what is the music set?

Answer 6

Free rhythm based off natural speech patterns

Question 7

What are the two types of accompaniment for recitative?

Answer 7

Secco and accompagnato

Question 8

Describe recitative secco

Answer 8

Secco means dry, and this type is when the accompanist has just basic chords to eatablish the key and support the vocalist

Question 9

Describe recitative accompagnato

Answer 9

Or recitative stromentato (instrumental) is when the voice part is fit to regualr bars with a running accompaniment line. This is used for tense or dramatic parts

Question 10

Examples of oratorio

Answer 10

Handel - Israel in Egypt; Messiah

Question 11

Examples of operas

Answer 11

Mozart - Don Giovanni; The Magic Flute

Question 12

Recitative has also been imitated by instrumentalists. Examples

Answer 12

Schumann - Kinderscenen for Piano solo

Beethoven - The Poet Speaks from Piano Sonata Op. 31, No. 2, 1st Movement

Question 13

What is an aria in the context of an opera or oratorio?

Answer 13

A song following recitative which is sung by a solo voice. It usually comments on the events of the recitative or expresses the emotions of the character singing. The melody is important

Question 14

Examples of arias and their form

Answer 14

Binary - He shall feed his flock (Messiah by Handel)
Ternary - Where e’er you walk (Semele by Handel)
Rondo - I have lost my Euridice (Orfeo by Gluck)
Verse and refrain - Softly awakes my heart (Samson and Delilah by Saint Saens)

Question 15

Describe Aria da Capo

Answer 15

In Baroque times, the aria was a ternary song as it had an opening section, contrasting episode, then return tl the opening. Embellishment was added to the opening the second time through at the discretion of the singer. Aria gave the singer an opportunity to show off their voice.

Question 16

In which three works are arias found?

Answer 16

Operas, oratorio and cantata

Question 17

Arias may also be single pieces. Who wrote concert arias for voice and orchestra?

Answer 17

Mozart

Question 18

Is aria alsways a vocal piece?

Answer 18

No, an air (from aria) may be sung or playes, and used for variations

Question 19

Example of an aria da capo

Answer 19

Handel - Rejoice Greatly from Messiah