Terms Flashcards
Lubeck
The city J. S. Bach walked to to hear the famous organist.
Imitative Counterpoint
Canon
Fugue
J. S. Bach
(1685-1750) Devoutly Lutheran: SDG (soli Deo gloria), JJ (jesu juve), Calov Bible Commentary
Played: organ, harpsichord, clavichord, violin, voice
Composed: fugues (sometimes improvised)
Professional posts: Weimar, Cothen, Leipzig
BWV - Bach work catalogue (he wrote a ton)
Weimar
J. S. Bach worked there, writing organ music (1708-1717). Tracker organ.
Orgelbuchlein (Little Organ Book), the book was actually small.
-Durch Adam’s Fall
Cothen
J. S. Bach worked there, writing instrumental music (1717-1723).
Well-Tempered Clavier (WTC)
-24 preludes and fugues (1 in each key)
Leipzig
J. S. Bach worked there, as Cantor (director of church music) over 4 major churches there (1723-1750). Provided a cantata for every Sunday and for every feast (except during Advent and Lent) (about 60 per year, 20 minutes each).
Played organ for weddings and funerals.
Taught music and Latin to choirboys.
Lutheran Chorale Prelude
An introduction to a Hymn. Sets the mood, and reminds the congregation of how the hymn goes.
Fugue
Exposition: theme (subject), repeat at dominant level (answer), repeat…
(Sometimes includes a countersubject.)
Episode: freer section
Middle Entries: original material in new key
Final Portion: restate original material in original key
basso continuo
Bassline w/sustaining instruments (cello, bassoon, etc.), and chords (harpsichord, organ, lute, etc.)
aria/recitative
Vocal solo with accompaniment
da capo aria
ABA form
oratorio
Classical period, choir heavy drama told though music with a sacred topic, not staged.
cantata
Usually sacred work for voices and instruments. Sacred topics.
clarino register
The extreme high register of baroque trumpet, a specialty of some trumpet players.
sonata form
Exposition:
-tonic moves to dominant
-1st theme is bold, 2nd theme is lyrical
Development:
-various keys (but not tonic), moves to dominant
-thematic development
Recapitulation:
-stays in tonic
-1st theme, then 2nd theme
-symmetrical aspect to the exposition
The Enlightenment
18th C Age of Reason. Emphasis on science and empiricism. Deemphasis on superstition and the supernatural.
Classical Period
1750-1820
A period of music with ideals such as: balance, symmetry, clarity, harmonious proportions, antecedent/consequent phrases, diatonicism, regular rhythms.
Included notable genres:
symphony, concerto, string quartet, sonata, opera, oratorio, Mass
Later on (1730s-40s)
galant style (pleasing, light, easily digestable)
comic intermezzo (comedic short opera)
sonata form
Domenico Scarletti
(1685-1757) Maestro di capella in Lisbon, Portugal. Taught princess Maria Barbara, who was extremely talented. Moved to Madrid, Spain when Barbara became queen of Spain.
Wrote binary form keyboard music that illuded to what would become sonata form.
Acciacatura
Chord with 2nds, comes from Spanish guitar music. Sounds like a sus chord.
comic intermezzo
Performed in between acts of a serious opera. The plot was unrelated to that of the serious opera.
The plot: the world turned on its head.
Mostly syllabic singing.
Small cast, with an emphasis on acting, rather than singing.
commedia dell’arte (stock) characters
galant style
Precursor to the classical era.
Simple, elegant, antecedent + consequent
opera seria
Italian serious opera
3 acts
Roman history
alt. between aria and recit
The singers are the focus. -complicated singing including melismas
Christoph Willibald Gluck
(1714-1787)
Created Reform Ballet and Reform Opera
Reform Opera
A type of Opera created by Gluck. Everything serves the drama and story: singing, orchestra, dance, chorus, structures/form. The orchestra has a bigger role. The singing became less showy. Realism.
Sturm und Drang
Style of music that uses diminished 7th chords and fast runs. Sounds scary.
Carl Philip Emanuel Bach
(C. P. E. Bach) 1714-1788
Worked in Berlin for King Fredrick the Great.
He made a big deal of playing expressively.
He wrote keyboard music and the treatise on the True Art of Playing the Keyboard.
The True Art of Playing the Keyboard
A treatise on playing the keyboard by C. P. E. Bach. Includes music theory, techniques, expression, and 18 pieces increasing in difficulty.
Clavichord
A quiet keyboard instrument that could play dynamics and vibrato (Bebung). Fretted couldn’t play every combination of notes, but the unfretted can.
J. C. Bach
The “London” Bach. 1735-1783
Wrote a variety of music, notably operas. Influential on Mozart.
Bach-Abel concert series
Symphony
For full orchestra.
1st movement (fast): sonata form
2nd (slow): various forms
3rd (dance): minuet + trio
4th (fast): various forms [often sonata rondo form]
Minuet and Trio
Dance form in ternary: dance 1 (AB), dance 2 (CD), and dance 1 (AB) again.
Sinfonia
Latin for “Symphony of sounds.” Opera overture. Fast, slow, fast.
Sammartini
1700-1775
Wrote early symphonies, using only strings.
Mannheim
German city near France. Had the best orchestra in Europe at the time “an army of generals.” Notable by their bow directions, dynamics
Johann Stamitz
Wrote for the Mannheim orchestra.
Esterhazy Family
Most prominent German aristocrats in Hungry in Haydn’s time.
Capellmeister
Director of music for an aristocratic family. A capellmeister is in charge of composition, directing, teach female vocalists, inventory (music library and instruments).
Joseph Haydn
1732-1809
Capellmeister of Nickolas Esterhazy, and later his son. He wrote 104 classical symphonies, and 68 string quartets, as well as concertos, keyboard music, operas, oratorios, and Masses. “Father of the Symphony” “Father of the String Quartet”
Classical Full Orchestra
Strings (including bass), winds in pairs (including horn), sometimes percussion, trumpets and trombones.
Concertante Style
A symphony that has a significant solo in it.
chamber music
Music for a few instruments (usually 2-5 but sometimes up to 10). Every player has a separate part. “Conversation among equals.”
Baryton
6 or 7 stringed member of the viola de gamba family. Has additional sympathetic strings.
String Quartet
Joseph Haydn “Father of the String Quartet.” Chamber music played by 2 violins, a viola, and a cello. Same form as a symphony.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1756-1791
Child prodigy in Salzburg
Freelance musician in Vienna
-gave concerts
-composition: publishing, commissions (opera, keyboard, chamber, symphony, concerto, sacred)
-taught lessons
-chamber musician at Vienna court
Wrote 626 compositions
First Movement Concerto Form
Sonata form except:
Extra intro exposition (staying in the tonic) with only orchestra accompaniment.
Cadenza (soloist only) in the recapitulation right before the closing.
Types of Opera
opera seria (Italian serious opera)
opera buffa (Italian comic opera, uses ensemble numbers)
Singspiel (German opera, includes spoken dialogue)
Classical Mass
Mass: ordinary mass (at every Catholic service)
Requiem mass: service for the dead
