UNIT 2 Flashcards
baroque
literal meaning a “rough misshapen or imperfect pearl”
Why was the harpsichord important to the development of the baroque era?
it could play more than one note at a time, CHORDS
Figured bass
- left hand notes are given, right hand is improvised, notation of left hand has note of chord and numberical symbols underneath that indicate what to play
Gabrieli
the concert master of the St. Mark’s Cathedral, style is referred to as colossal baroque, he invents modern orchestration, decides what instrument will play what ahead of time
Why was the violin so important?
it was loud, music was now being played in concert halls needed the sound to be heard
Crimona, Italy
where all the violin makers lived
Antonio Stradavari
creator of the Stradivarius violin
Stradivarius violin
- violin created by Stradavari
- mastery and perfection has not been matched since
- sound is fuller, more bass, clearer sound
Corelli
composer of violin music, one of the first specialists; created sequences changing the key in the middle of the pieces
Vivaldi
- created concerto grosso
- created solo concerto
concerto grosso
two violins and a cello have something like a debate/conversation between each other
divided into small sections called movements
solo concerto
one instrument is featured and the entire orchestra backs them up
Representative works of Vivaldi
The Four Seasons, Mandolin Concerto in C
baroque organ
instrument that took 70 men to operate, created a variety of sounds, prototype for the synthesizer
J.S. Bach
- organ repairman who had genius ability to assess and repair organs
- created fugue
Representative works of Bach
- 6 Brandenburg Concertos
- Toccata and Fugue in D minor
Fugue
a composition for keyboard which follows a rigid set of rules for imitation and counterpoint
“The Well-Tempered Clavier”
The “well tuned” “keyboard”, two volumes, in tune can play with any instrument
Karl Phlipe Emmanuel Bach (KPE Bach)
based in Berlin
Johann Christian Bach
Based in London
Lully
worked in the court of Louis XIV, first French opera composer, watched tragic actors so his music would match the height of the drama, died conducting
Rameau
first person to write down scientific principles on constructing music, wrote the Treatise on Harmony, as a composer big on instrumentation, thought to be the first to use clarinet
Treatise on Harmony
book that stressed the importance of chords (first to propose a scientific basis to create harmony)
Couperin
- epitome of baroque
- wrote keyboard music
King Charles II
created the 24 violins of the King (first stringed group)
Henry Purcell
1 musician in England, served under 3 kings, organist for Chapel Royal and Westminister Abbey, wrote the opera’s Dido and Aeneas, The Fairy Queen, adapted from a Midsummer Night’s
George Frederick Handel
creator of the oratorio
oratorio
extended vocal work with religious text (Messiah)
The Camerata
men’s club that discussed music, their purpose was to restore Greek Drama
Monody
one sound/voice
Basso Continuo
chords behind singing (realized)
Monte Verdi
music master, wrote Orfeo, brings back large orchestras
Jacopo Peri
wrote the first opera we know about, Euridice
Public Operas
- open to wealthy and commoners
- became a social experience as well as an art