Unit 3: Madrigal Flashcards
1
Q
Madrigal background and origins
A
- 16th and 17th century: “Madrigal” denoted type of secular song (that flourished in small aristocratic courts of Italy, including Venice, Ferrara, Mantua; then gained widespread popularity in Europe and England)
- initially: homophobic w/ focus on pleasure to performers (amateur musicians)
- later: complex polyphonic texture, increased chromaticism (composed for aristocratic audience)
- final decades of 16th century and early 17th century: assumed highly mannered, virtuosic style-more personalized expression of the composer
- early 17th century: elements of Baroque style (basso continuo, dramatic declamatory style)
2
Q
Madrigal characteris tic features
A
- texts were short poems of a lyrical/reflective character
- favourite topics: live and desire, political themes, humour, satire
- music generally brought-composed
- word painting: ideas, images, emotions in poem conveyed through music
- chromaticism (expressive device) in late style
3
Q
madrigal
A
- popular secular vocal genre
- flourished 16th century
- based on intimate relationship b/t poetry and music
- vivid word painting
4
Q
word painting
A
- musical pictorialization
- in vocal works: music reflects meaning of text
- in madrigals, operas, oratorios
5
Q
nonsense syllables
A
- syllables with no meaning: “fa-la-la” “nonny-nonny-no”
- characteristic feature of English madrigal
6
Q
chromaticism
A
- Greek: khroma (colour)
- melodies and harmonies that include any of the notes available within the octave, in either tonal or modal context
7
Q
ballett
A
- Italian: “little dance”
- 16th-century Italian and English strophic song type
- generally simple dancelike style
- often included “fa-la-la” refrains
- embraced by English madrigalists
