Terms Flashcards
Coloratura
The Soprano goes crazy and goes high and sings scales
Comes from the Italian word “colouring” – uses thrills, runs, etc. to extend, elaborate, and colour the melodic line. Popular technique used in light/comic opera where a soprano is so full of joy, bubbles, over, sings runs, scales, and hitting high notes
Ex. Mabel (beautiful and vain soprano), uses this style of singing in the song, Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast
Cantata
A medium-length narrative piece of music for voices with instrumental accompaniment, typically with solos, chorus, and orchestra
Leitmotif
A recurrent theme throughout a musical or literary composition, associated with a particular person, idea, or situation.
Ex. In Sweeney Todd, there are over 20 distinct ones – identify characters and situations – not huge melodies but small motifs you can hear.
Unlimited leitmotif from Wicked
Concept album/Concept musical
A rock album featuring a cycle of songs expressing a particular theme or idea turned into a musical
Ex. American idiot, Rock of ages
A “concept musical” is based on characters and themes, not a straightforward plot, storyline based on characters and little situations rather than linear chronological plot idea
Phenomenal song
The song is being openly declared as a song, as a phenomenal itself – when character is aware that they are singing – character declares they are going to sing a song
Ex. in the song “Bill” and “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” – Showboat
Fourth wall
A performance convention in which an invisible, imagined wall separates actors from the audience. While the audience can see through this “wall”, the convention assumes, the actors act as if they cannot.
Polyphonic
A texture consisting of 2 or more simultaneous lines of independent melody, as opposed to music with just one tone (monophony); multiple layers of vocal lines
Ex. How Beautifully Blue Blue The Sky - Pirates of Penzance
Libretto/Librettist
The text of a dramatic musical work such as an opera, including the lyrics to be sung and sometimes interpolated spoken passages.
The author of a libretto.
Ex. William Gilbert - Pirates of Penzance
Pointillism
a style of painting in which small distinct dots of colour create the impression of a wide selection of other colours and blending
-An extension of expressionism, a style of painting: works with the idea of impressionism in that it creates an impression through dots
Ex. In Sunday in the Park with George, they adapted this into music by playing random notes and blotches of music while still making an impression over what they were trying to communicate (not as successful with music as it is with painting – people expected flowing melodies)
Dies Irae melody
From a chant used in Roman catholic requiem mass (“day of wrath”) is all about a day when the souls go to be judged
Ex. in Sweeney Todd, they associate him with the judgment and execution – for him everyone is evil and he kills them. First few notes are used frequently in the Ballad of Sweeney Todd – “Swing your raze wide, Sweeney”
Operetta
A short opera, usually on a light or humorous theme and typically having spoken dialogue, still requires trained voices (unlike book musicals)
Ex. Notable composers are, Arthur Sullivan and William Gilbert in The Pirates of Penzance
Orchestration
The practice of writingmusicfor an orchestra (or, more loosely, for anymusicalensemble, such as a concert band) or of adaptingmusiccomposed for another medium for an orchestra.
Ostinato
a motive which repeats persistently; a succession of equal sounds; a series of notes played quickly in a pattern, played in a way so that there is no note that is stronger than others
Ex. Finishing the hat - You can hear it in the piano over and over again because it repeats throughout the song; it’s like a musical depiction of obsession. Other instruments pick up fragments of the ostinato, but it’s still there pretty much throughout the entire song.
Syncopation
A disturbance or interruption of the regular flow of rhythm, a placement of rhythmic stresses or accent where they wouldn’t normally occur
Musical play
Since the 20th century, the “book musical” has been defined as a musical play where songs and dances are fully integrated into a well-made story with serious dramatic goals that are able to evoke genuine emotions other than laughter (placed importance on the libretto based on the literary source)
Ex. Show Boat: used “musical play” by making the story the most important thing. Previously, the dance and songs were superior and the story was lacking. However, Show Boat represents the complete integration of music and dialogue! (Both are significant).
