Early Baroque Vocal Music

Monody

1. Monteverdi’s Orfeo is primariy\ly monodic

2. Homophonic texture

   • Solo vocal line with chordal accompaniment

3. Rhythmically free

   • No meter - approximates natural rhythm of speech

4. Slight differences between aria and recit

Componets of Opera:

1. Vocal music

2. Intrumental music

3. Acting

4. Scenery

5. Dancing

Recitative

Based on the ideals of monody

1. Rhythmically free, no meter

2. Declamatory, speech-like singing style

3. Mirrors the natural rhythms of speech

4. Often used for dialougue

5. Helps build emotional tension

Aria

= italian word fo rair or song

1. More lyrical than recitative

2. Clear meter

3. Arias express emotion

4. Focuses on emotion fo a character in the story

5. Does not advance the story

6. Da capo arias became a. very popular form

Two kinds of Recitative:

1. Semplice

   • Accompanied by basso continuo

   • Very speech-like, many repeated notes

   • Early opera uses simple recitative almost exclusivley

2. Accompagnato

   • Accompanied by orchestra

   • More lyrical than simple recitative

   • Later opera uses a combination of the two

Arioso

1. Not as widely used as recitative and aria

2. the midpoint between the two styles

3. More lyrical than simple recitative

4. Most declamatory than aria

Da Capo Aria

1. Aria form became popular later in the Baroque period

2. “Da capo” is Italian for “ from the top”

3. This is an aria with a specific structure

4. A-B-A’ form

5. Section A is sung followed by section B

6. After section B. sectoin A is repeated with embelishments

Intrumental Music of Opera

1. Sung in ensembles (duets, trios, etc)

2. At times the orchestra plays intrumental pieces

3. Prior to the star of the opera, a piece is played

   • Nmaes for these pieces vary: sinfonia, interlude, etc

Basso ostinato

1. Any repeated pattern in music is an ostinato

2. Obstinato means stubborn'

3. A repeated bass melody is a basso ostinato

4. Baroque lament arias often sung to a descending basso ostinato

Oratorio

1. Began as small scale religious plays

2. Grew to be essentially an opera without the staging: no constumes, no scenery

3. Same use of recitative and aria'

4. Accompanied by orchestra

   ** Christian religous themes

Cantata

1. Smaller performign forces

2. Much shorter than opera or oratorio

Later Baroque Cantata..

1. Consits of all operative characteristics:

   • Recitatives Arias

   • Ensembles

   • Choruses

   • Orchestra