Vocal Music Flashcards
Compare Mvt.1 of Stolzel’s ‘Cantata Werdet voll Geistas’ with Mvt.1 of ‘Ein Feste Burg ist unser Gott’.
Similarities:
- Cantatas
- Imitation
- Counterpoint in voices in 2nd section
- Decorated Hymn Tune (Christus, Der Ist Mein Leben)
- Frequent Cadences
- Syllabic
- Strings + Brass*
- Modulate to dominant
- Vocal lines closely doubled by orchestra
Differences:
- Homorythmic instrumentation
- Much less virtuosic
- Lack of melisma
- Lack of fleeting modulations
- Slower harmonic rate of change
- Homophony between voices in 1st section
- Ends on dominant instead of original
- No Soprano
Compare Mvt.2 of Stolzel’s ‘Cantata Werdet voll Geistas’ with Mvt.2 of ‘Ein Feste Burg ist unser Gott’.
Similarities:
- Arias
- Persistent quavers
- Strings play main accompanying motif
- Bass (Burg) + Tenor (Geistas) sing largely independant Arias
- Frequent Cadences
Differences:
- Soprano (Burg) decorates Hymm Tune
- Solo Tenor Aria
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Compare Mvt.5 of Stolzel’s ‘Cantata Werdet voll Geistas’ with Mvt.8 of ‘Ein Feste Burg ist unser Gott’.
Similarities:
- Homorythmic sections
- Frequent Cadences
- Functional Harmony
- Chordal
- Orchestral accompaniment doubles vocal lines
- Both close works
Differences:
- First section Tenor solo with minimal accompaniment from woodwinds
-
Compare Handel’s ‘Hallelujah’ from ‘Messiah’ with ‘Ein Feste Burg ist unser Gott’.
Similarities
- Mvt.1 Contrapuntal voices
- Mvt.8 Homorhythmic voices
- Functional Harmony
- Frequent Cadences
- D Major (associated with light and glory)
Differences:
- Oratorio
Compare Mvt.3 of ‘Brandenburg Concerto No.5 in D major to ‘Ein Feste Burg ist unser Gott’.
Similarities:
- Mvt.1 Fugal Texture
- Mvt.1 Modulation to relative minor (Closely related keys)
- Mvt.1 Virtuosic
- Light chromaticism suggest fleeting modulations
- Mvt.1 Main subject
- Answers to subject transposed
Differences:
- Use of monophony
- Use of harpsichord instead of organ
Compare Mvt.1 of Bach’s ‘Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme’ (Sleepers Awake) with Mvt.1 of ‘Ein Feste Burg ist unser Gott’.
Similarities:
- Based on Hymm Tune of same name
- Decorates Hymm Tune
- SATB
- Chorale Fantasia
-Cantus Firmus sung by Soprano
Compare Mvt.6 of Bach’s ‘Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme’ (Sleepers Awake) with Mvt.2 of ‘Ein Feste Burg ist unser Gott’.
Similarities:
- Aria duet for bass and soprano
- Counterpoint between voices
Differences:
- Less driving rhythm
- Bass not singing independent aria
- Bass not as virtuosic
- Harpsichord plays major role
- Lack of strings
- Relaxed mood
- Oboe plays counterpoint against voices, but occasionally doubles voices for just a few notes
- Oboe plays main accompaniment motif
Compare Mvt.7 of Bach’s ‘Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme’ (Sleepers Awake) with Mvt.8 of ‘Ein Feste Burg ist unser Gott’.
Similarities:
- Frequent cadences
- Chordal
- Homorythmic
- Polyphonic
- Reprises Hymm Tune
Compare ‘Prologue’ from Britten’s ‘Our Hunting Fathers’ to ‘On Wenlock Edge’.
Similarities:
- Tenor
- Both from song cycles
- Word Painting
Differences:
- Much more atonal
- Held out chords on strings and woodwinds
- More dissonant
- Ends with just voice
Compare ‘Rats Away’ from Britten’s ‘Our Hunting Fathers’ with
Idk yet
Compare ‘The Vagabond’ from VW ‘Songs of Travel’ with ‘On Wenlock Edge’
Similarities:
All: Piano
All: Tenor
IMTP: Contrasting p and f sections
Differences:
All: No Strings
BH: Strong sense of rhythm
All: Very tonal
Compare ‘Whither Must I Wander’ from VW ‘Songs of Travel’ with ‘On Wenlock Edge’
Similarities:
All: Piano
BH: Somewhat Melancholic
IMTP: Quick bursts of forte
BH: Mostly pp
BH: Gentle chords in piano
Differences:
All: No strings
