vocal forms Flashcards
what is word painting?
music matched the meaning of the word
Eg. “flying” or “heaven” would have rising or higher notes, “happiness” would be accompanied
what are the treatment of words?
composers developed two new ways of emphasizing the text.
Notes matched more closely the normal rhythms of speech
what is a motet/how many movements?
A short setting of a Latin text to praise the Virgin Mary, one movement
what are two details about a motet?
- Mixture of polyphonic and homophonic styles
- Composers could choose texts that expressed the dramatic or mysterious aspects of religion, which allowed for richer, more expressive music - more creative possibilities than the fixed text of the “Ordinary”
- In England, the Anglican (Protestant) church developed the Anthem (a motet, but in English)
What is a cantus firmus?
The “Cantus Firmus” - Fixed Melody, changed melody by the time
what composers used a cantus firmus?
Josquin des Prez
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
what vocal styles was a cantus firmus used in?
mass and motet, very popular in motet
why was palestrina so important?
- he wrote so many masses and motets (100)
- demonstration of polyphony
- influence on church music
what is the difference between ordinary and proper mass?
ordinary = always, proper used on special weeks like easter, christmas, etc
what were the pieces in ordinary mass?
2) KYRIE
3) GLORIA
9) CREDO
13) SANCTUS
15) AGNUS DEI
what is the madrigal/ how many movements?
movements varies on the piece,
- Topics were everything from serious to sexy
- Sung at home as after dinner entertainment
- Part books were printed so 4 people could sit around a table a sing together
- Melodies were stepwise
- Texture was homophonic and polyphonic
- Form was AABB with lots of fa-la-las incorporated as a way of hiding sexual words
- Harmony: consonant
- Techniques like word painting were used; for example if a person sang about sighing, the notes would fall as a sigh
what languages was the madrigal sung in?
French, Italian, English
