Baroque Period Questions and Answers Already Passed

Baroque Period Questions and Answers Already Passed Characteristics of Baroque bizarre, flamboyant, ornamented, extreme emotion Baroque AKA ____________ "Age of Absolutism" 2 major composers Handel and Back Other well known composers Monteverdi, Purcell, Corelli, Vivaldi Early baroque favored... homophonic texture over poly Late baroque ... polyphonic returned Characteristics of Baroque Usually expresses ONE MOOD, unless vocals are involved Affections moods (joy, grief, agitation) Baroque rhythm 1) Patterns heard at beginning are repeated throughout REPITITION 2)drive and energy, rarely interrupted 3)Beat more emphasized Baroque Melody 1)feeling of continuity 2)opening melody heard over and over 3) Higher and lower pitches 4) sound elaboragte and ornamental, not easy to sing/remember. Baroque Dynamics Level of volume fairly constant When shift occurs, it's sudden Terraced Dynamics Alternating dynamics between loud and soft. Main keyboard instruments Organ, harpsichord, clavichord Baroque Texture Late: polyphonic Imitations between lines common Basso Continuo most characteristic part of this period Basso continuo, 2 instruments Keyboard (organ or harpsichord) Low melody instrument (cello or bassoon) Chords Very important to this era Figured Bass Bass part with numbers (figures)--only specify basic chords Baroque orchestra based on Violin family, 10-40 people Nucleus of baroque orchestra Basso Continuo Baroque Trumpet like French horn, no valves. Rapid complex melody lines in high register Baroque Form "Movement" a piece that sound fairly complete and independent but is part of a larger composition. Concerto Grosso a baroque composition for orchestra and a group of solo instruments LARGE GROUP VS TUTTI 3 movements of concerto grosso Opening--vigorous/determined, clear contrast between solo and tutti Slow--Quieter, often lyrical and intimate Last--Lively/carefree, sometimes dancelike Ritornello Form the word for a recurring passage for orchestra in the first or final movement of a solo concerto or aria (also in works for chorus). In ritornello form, the tutti opens with a theme called the ritornello (refrain). This theme, always played by the tutti, returns in different keys throughout the movement. However, it usually returns in incomplete fragments. J.S. Bach "Brandenburg Concerto in No 5 in D Major (example of Ritornello Form) Fugue a composition written systematically in imitative polyphony, usually with a single main theme...ONE MAIN THEME Characteristics of Fugue "voices" imitate the subject Top is soprano, bottom is bass 3, 4 and 5 voices Subject remains constant Begins with subject obvious in voice Countersubject constant companion of the subject, Episodes snippets....transitional sections between presentation of the subject. Offers new materail but never the subject Stretto subject is imitated before it is completed--one voice tries to catch the other Pedal Point aka organ point single tone--usually in bass--held while other voices produce series of changing harmonies against it. 4 Variations of Fugue Inversion Retrograde Augmentation Diminution Inversion Fugue turned upside down, Retrograde Fugue subject begins with last note and proceeds backwards to the first Augmentation Original time values are lengthened, the statement of a theme in notes of greater duration (usually twice the length of the original) Diminution shorted time values Prelude Independent fugue, very short Organ Fugue in G Minor J.S. Bach. BEST KNOWN ORGAN PIECE Opera Drama that is sung Libretto Text, usually written by Librettist and is set to music by composer Voice ranges for Opera Coloratura Soprano=very high Lyric Soprano=Light voice Dramatic Soprano=full powerful Aria "main attraction". Song for solo voice with orchetra accompaniment Recitative Opera composers often lead with this. Vocal lines that imitates rhythm.One note to each syllable Ensemble 3 or more singers Opera Chorus Generates atmosphere and makes comments on action. Can be tonal background for soloist Prompter Invisible to audience. Gives cues or reminds singers of words or pitches Orchestra Pit Sunken area in front of stage. Smaller string section Overture aka Prelude Opening of an opera Camerata Fellowship or society of nobles, poets and composers who meet to compose opera "Orfeo" The first opera in the history of Western music composed by Monteverdi Euridice first opera ever written by Jacopo Peri Baroque opera usually composed for ________ Ceremonial occasions First public opera house Venice in 1637` Castrato Male singer castrated before puberty. Highest fees of all musicians. Secco Recitatives Recitatives accompanied by basso continuo Accompanied Recitatives Recitatives supported by the orchestra da capo from the beginning Monteverdi Italian composer, violinist, and singer who wrote the first dramatically viable opera, 'Orfeo' The Coronation of Poppea (Claudio) Monteverdi Orfeo about a gifted musician from Greek mytholoy Henry Purcell An early Baroque composer; One of his famous works was Dido and Aneas "Greatest of English Composers" Ground Bass aka basso ostinato. Bass is repeated over and over while melodies above it change. Dido and Aeneas Henry Purcell / opera / early baroque / 1675 / recitative vs. aria / monophony / public entertainment Baroque Sonata a composition in several movements for one to eight instrumentss Trio Sonatas 3 Melodic lines, 2 high lines and a basso continuo. Sonata da chiesa (church sonata) dignified character, suitable for sacred performances Sonata da camera (chamber sonata) more dancelike, intended for performance at court Corelli violinist, conductor, composer. "Era of the Violin". Wrote down and published some of his improvs. Created many sontatas Corelli Most porminant Italian violinist and comp of string music. Wrote 60 sonatas and 12 concertos. Antonio Vivaldi a Venetian priest and baroque music composer, as well as a famous virtuoso violinist; he was born and raised in the Republic of Venice. The Four Seasons, a series of four violin concertos, is his best known work and a highly popular Baroque music piece. Antonio Vivaldi most famous for "The Four Seasons" Trill ornamental...rapid alternating of 2 tones, whole or half steps apart Bach renowned organist, lived all his life in Germany, considered one of the greatest composers of all time Bach created what kind of music masterpieces for every Baroque form except opera Baroque suite A set of dances in the same key. Bach "Suite no3 in D major" chorale Hymn tune. Easy to sing and remember. one note per syllable. Chorale prelude organist plays before the hymn. Reminds singers of the song Cantata Musical expression in Lutherin service. SUNG Cantor music director. Provides church cantatas every Sunday and holiday. Best Known Bach Cantata Cantata No 14 The Oratorio Similar to an opera, but on a religious subject. No scenery/acting/costumes. Handel best oratorio "Messiah" George Handel () Baroque musician;stormy international career;wrote a lot of secular music but probably best known for his religious music (Messiah) Ritornello Instrumental interlude recurring after each stanza in vocal work. (example, Lucy in the Sky)