Vocal Music of the Romantic Period: Opera

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture on vocal music of the Romantic period, focusing on opera.

Opera

A stage drama set to music that incorporates singing, acting, and orchestral accompaniment, combining various art forms.

Libretto

The text of an opera, containing the story or plot.

Arietta

A small aria or solo singing part sung by a principal character.

Recitative

Declamatory singing used in the prose parts and dialogue of opera.

Improvisation

The act of creating and performing music spontaneously without much preparation.

Variation

The repetition of a musical idea, presenting it in various ways to develop creativity.

Voice Classifications

Categories for singers based on their vocal range, including tenor, baritone, bass for males; soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto for females.

Dissonance

A combination of tones that creates tension and is used to expand harmony in music.

Melody

A sequence of musical notes that are perceived as a single entity, often lyrical and expressive in the Romantic period.

Art Song

A composition for piano and solo voice, often part of a song cycle with a storyline.

Opera Buffa

A type of opera that involves everyday people in contemporary settings and humorous situations.

Opera Seria

A type of opera that deals with serious themes, often involving kings, gods, and heroes.

Giuseppe Verdi

A prominent Italian opera composer known for his expressive vocal melodies and serious love stories.

Richard Wagner

A German composer who introduced new ideas in harmony and form, advocating for the integration of music and drama.

Georges Bizet

A French composer known for the opera "Carmen," which received mixed reviews at its premiere but later became widely acclaimed.

Melodic Ideas

Varieties of motifs and themes used within one movement, expanding the complexity of musical compositions during the Romantic period.