Chapter 21

When and where was Neapolitan Opera Seria Standardized

1720 in Naples

Who standardized Neapolitan Opera Seria

Pietro Metastasio

What standardizing Neapolitan Opera Seria looked like

- cut out all comic scenes

- more natural plots (no machines)

- 3 acts consisting of alternating

- role of chorus was reduced

- orchestra more subordinated to singer

- musical interest is centered in the Aria

- singers bagan to abuse the focus on the aria

Musical interest centered on Aria

- especially "da capo"

- unity of opera is simply Aria to Aria

Neapolitan Opera Seria

c. 1745

attempted by opera composers

Italian Comic Opera is...

lighter in style than Opera Seria

Italian Comic Opera

- began to grow in importance after 1760

- characters are everyday people

- librettos in national language

Italian Comic Opera historical significance

emphasis on beauty of melody

ability of music to portray complex characters and rapidly changing emotions

Opera Buffa

full length work with six or more singing characters and SUNG throughout (i.e. recitatives)

Opera Buffa Purpose

ENTERTAINMENT

social commentary on different "classes"

comic

Opera Buffa Arias

"Galant" style

Lighter than opera Seria and grows in popularity around 1760

Aria "Galant" style

short, tuneful phrase like with simple harmonies

Characteristics of Opera Buffa

- six or more singing characters

- sung entirely throughout

- Aria tend to be "galant" style

(pre-classic, very light style)

Intermezzo

a short connecting instrumental movement in an opera or other musical works

What consisted of Intermezzos

each 3 act opera contains an intermezzo consisting of two scenes

Intermezzo Characters

usually servants/older people who served nobility

Main character in Intermezzo

BASS singer

What did intermezzo's end with

ENSEMBLES

each act ends with ensemble finale

Who used intermezzos a lot

Mozart

Intermezzo Plots

clever young woman gets better of an old man

funny

characters would be part of the opera seria

La Serva Padrona (The Maid as Mistress)

Pergolesi (1710-1736)

For 2 voices (Bass, Soprano) + mute

1733 in Naples

Reflecte "Anti-Baroque" ideas

"Anti-Baroque" ideas

- major keys

- disjunct melodic lines

- repeated motives

- static "chugging" bass line that repeats

- SLOW rate of harmonic change

- Accompanied recitative

Pergolesi's idea for La Serva Padrona

to put it in his own opera seria he wrote

La Serva Padrona Characters

Uberto: wealthy old bachelor

Serpina: Soprano

Vespone: mute

French Comic Opera

"opera comic"

began c. 1710

sparked controversy known as the "Querella des Buffons"

Opera Comique Intermezzo

La Serva Pardrona

Opera Comique Style

- mix of Italian and French

- used spoken dialogue

Who used recitative in Serious opera?

Italian opera is the ONLY one to use recitative in serious opera (opera buffa)

Le Devin du Village (The Village Soothsayer)

J.J. Rousseau

1752

French opera, but set doing recitative

J.J. Rousseau

- wrote a "letter on French Music"

- said it was IMPOSSIBLE to set French text naturally

- bend toward the Italians

English Comic Opera

Ballard Opera

The Beggar's Opera

1728 - John Gay

used spoken dialogue

originally used borrowed melodies

German Comic Opera

"Singspiel"

Singspiel

first ones were translations of English comic operas and opera comics translated into German

North Germany

Romantic - German Romantic Op

Southern Germany (specifically Vienna)

Farcical subjects/popular music

Southern Germany Influence

- influenced by opera buffa

- guy that does this - Mozart

Italian Opera Seria Reform

Christoph Willibald Gluck - leader of reform

What did Christoph Willibald Gluck create?

new, international style of opera

- blend all types of opera into his own

Christoph Willibald Gluck Life

studied with Sammartini, worked in London, triumphed in Paris

Who/what was Gluck influenced by?

Querelle des Buffons: battle of musical philosophies

is french opera any good?

Who was pro Italian?

Rosseau & "back to nature"

Who was pro French?

Fr. King, Rameau & gluck

Paniero Calzabiggi

Librettist for Gluck

- wrote for Gluck

What did Calzabiggi write?

1762 - Orfea ed Euridice

1767 - Alceste

Calzabiggi was....

seeking a "beautiful simplicity"

C.W. Gluck changes

- omitted most da capo arias

- less contrast between recit. & aria

- emphasize chorus, dance and orchestra

Orfeo ed Euridice

Gluck

Title is French but words are Italian

Where was reform noticed in Orfeo ed Euridice

all areas EXCEPT the overture

Orfeo ed Euridice plot

ACt II (Furies)

"Chi mai dell' Erbo" - short ballet

"Deh placateui con me" - orfeo

"Chi mai dell' Erbo"

Orfeo ed Euridice

note: we hear the FRENCH style in chorus (furies) and ballet

"Deh placateui con me"

Orfeo ed Euridice

note: we hear ITALIAN style with ornamentation in Orfeo's beautifully simple melody

Orfeo

- is a CASTRATO in Italian opera

- is a tenor in the French - text version for Paris audience

Puritans

Church Music in America

- "calvinists" - psalm singing

- 18th-century singing school

William Billings

1746-1800

wrote:

"new England Psalm Singer"

"The Continental Harmony" (1794)

"Fuging Tunes"

New England Psalm Singer

William Billings

First book composed in North America by ONE composer

"Fuging Tunes"

William Billings

homophonic section/"fugue-like" section

- "creation"