Vocab - Baroque-Beethoven

Question 1

monody

Answer 1

“To sing alone”

The shift in Baroque era to solo madrigals, arias, and recitatives to more effectively communicate raw human emotions.

Question 2

basso continuo

Answer 2

“Thorough bass”

A bass line that provides a continuous bass for the melody above.

Question 3

libretto

Answer 3

The text that conveys the story of an opera.

Question 4

Stile rappresentativo

Answer 4

Dramatic style or theater style

Question 5

cori spezzatti

Answer 5

“broken choir”

Used in St. Marks in Venice. Music for multiple choirs placed in different parts of a building.

Question 6

Stile concertato

Answer 6

“Concerted style”. A broadly used term to identify Baroque music marked by grand scale and strong contrast. Used separate units of voices and instruments.

Concerto derives from the same word, means “to act together” or “to perform together”.

Question 7

cantata

Answer 7

“Something sung”. Primary genre of vocal chamber music in the Baroque era.

Question 8

ground bass/basso ostinato

Answer 8

A bass line that repeats note for note.

Question 9

passacaglia/chaconne

Answer 9

Spanish origin, originally separate and distinct bass melodies. Became interchangable.

Question 10

sonata

Answer 10

“Something sounded” Genre of music that developed in the Baroque era.