Unit 6: Music History Flashcards
oratorio
- a large-scale choral work
- usually sacred and based on a biblical story
- components include an overture, recitatives, arias, and choruses
- performed in a concert setting, without costumes, staging, or scenery
chorus
- a vocal composition, often included in oratorios and other large-scale choral works
- often written for four voices: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass (SATB)
soprano
a female voice, high in register
alto
a female voice, low in register
tenor
a male voice, high in register
bass
a male voice, low in register
“Hallelujah Chorus” from Messiah
written by George Frideric Handel; the chorus expresses jubilation at the resurrection of Jesus Christ; the overwhelming sense of triumph conveyed by the music has contributed to its enduring popularity
Genre: chorus from an oratorio
Performing forces: SAT chorus accompanied by orchestra
Text source: drawn from the New Testament of the Bible
opera
- a play set to music
- performing forces include soloists, chorus, orchestra
- scenery, costumes, and lighting are combined with the music to tell the story
aria
- a solo song in an opera or oratorio
- allows the character to express his or her feelings and emotions
“Queen of the Night Aria” from The Magic Flute
written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; stands among the most dazzling and virtuosic pieces ever written for a coloratura soprano, a special voice type trained to execute passages of music
Genre: aria from an opera
Performing forces: coloratura soprano accompanied by orchestra
verse-chorus structure
- a common song structure in popular music
- verses develop the character/storyline while the ‘chorus’ acts as a tuneful refrain
“Over the Rainbow”
written by Harold Arlen
Genre: solo song, from the film The Wizard of Oz
Performing forces: solo voice (originally composed for Judy Garland) and orchestra
