Reading: Opera / Opera Buffa

Question 1

Opera

Answer 1

Drama presented in music, with the characters singing instead of speaking.

Question 2

Where did operas begin?

Answer 2

Florence.

Question 3

Recitative

Answer 3

A half-singing, half-reciting style of presenting words in opera, cantata, oratorio, etc., following speech accents and speech rhythms closely. Secco and accompagnato.

Question 4

Aria

Answer 4

A vocal number for solo singer and orchestra, generally in an opera, cantata, or oratorio.

Question 5

Arioso

Answer 5

A singing settle between recitative and aria.

Question 6

Baroque vocal music was ___, and this was convened in the music.

Answer 6

Emotional.

Question 7

Opera Seria

Answer 7

A term for the serious, heroic opera of the Baroque period in Italy.

Question 8

The principle type of Italian Baroque opera:

Answer 8

Opera Seria.

Question 9

What voices were prominent in Opera Seria?

Answer 9

Soprano and mezzo soprano, as well as castrati.

Question 10

Libretto

Answer 10

The words of an opera.

Question 11

Secco Recitative

Answer 11

Recitative that is only accompanied by continuo.

Question 12

Accompanied Recitative

Answer 12

Recitative that is accompanied by orchestra.

Question 13

Da Capo Form

Answer 13

Literally, “from the beginning”; a direction to the performer to repeat music from the beginning of the piece up to a later point.

Question 14

What is the literal translation of “da capo?”

Answer 14

From the head.

Question 15

Opera Buffa

Answer 15

Italian comic opera.

Question 16

What type of opera involved acting as well as singing?

Answer 16

Opera Buffa.

Question 17

Ensemble

Answer 17

A musical number in an opera, cantata, or oratorio that us sung by two or more people.

Question 18

Duet

Answer 18

An ensemble of two singers.

Question 19

Da Capo Aria

Answer 19

An aria in ABA form, i.e., one in which the A section is sung da capo at the end.