Music Theory

Claudio Monteverdi

Late Rennaisance, early baroque, wrote "Orfeo"

Henry Purcell

Greatest English composer of the baroque, wrote "Dido & Aeneas"

Baroque Trio Sonata

3 melodic parts. 2 High, 1 Basso Continuo, usually played in private residences

Johann Sebastian Bach

Greatest Baroque Composer, German, wrote Mass in B Minor, wrote NO OPERAS

Sonata

A musical piece composed of an Exposition which consists of two themes and a bridge, a development in which the themes are used in different ways (this is typically where composers like to flex) and a recapitulation in which the two themes return with an optional coda/codetta

Theme + Variations

Two types, sectional and continuous, in which one theme is repeated and varied each time

Minuet + Trio

Usually the 3rd movement, typically in triple meter. Not a dance form. Follows the form: ABA + CDC (with less texture and generally quieter) + ABA

Scherzo

"Little Joke", very fast, follows ABA form

Rondo

Follows the form ABACAD… + coda or ABACABA + optional coda, the first theme keeps coming back (twoset reference)

Classical Symphony

multimovement piece with up to 65 musicians, 1 - faster in sonata form; 2 - lyrical, slowest. Minuet + trio or theme + variations; 3 - Dance-like, minuet + trio; 4 - heroic or fast in a lighter mood than the opening movement

Classical Concerto

Usually 3 movements, Soloists and orchestra; 1 - fast, no minuet or scherzo, in sonata form with a double exposition and a recap with cadenza, A (soloist w/ orchestra) A (soloist) B (tutti) [development] A B; 2 - slow; 3 - fast

Sonata-Rondo

Exposition: A in the tonic, bridge, B in the dominant, Bridge, return to A in the tonic (rarely stays in the dominant), Development: C theme in a closely related key, Recap: A B A coda

Mass in Bm

Piece composed by bach in 1733, built on renaissance themes, arias, and duets. Crucifixus features ground bass, dissonant harmonies, and downward melodies.

Antonio Vivaldi

Composer who was in seminary to become a priest, illness led him to quit, son of a church director who wanted to improve church music, composed 450 concerti grossi, wrote four seasons, virtuoso violinist, died famous + poor, Most famous work is La Primavera

Arcangelo Corelli

Hung out with aristocrats, laid foundational technique for string instruments by developing double stops, wrote 60 sonatas and 12 concerti