listening exam 2 content

Alla Caccia Context

written at request of handel’s friend and patron, the marchese ruspoli. piece was premiered privately at his country palazzo. celebrated the goddess of hunting.

Alla Caccia Musical Characteristics

music reflects being on a hunt with galloping semiquavers, martial rhythms, and horn calls. features soprano soloist, soprano chorus, solo trumpet, two violins and continuo. only piece in exam to sing in italian! listen!

Toccata in A Minor Musical Characteristics

improvisatory style, super dense polyphonic texture with driving counterpoint, and bridged gap between earlier renaissance forms and later german style. sounds super thick.

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor Musical Charateristics

recognizable for horror films and dark and spooky tone. famous improvisational toccata with fast descending scales and thunderous chords. fugue is structures. designed to showcase technical prowess and range of church organs. listen for whistley high notes.

Toccata per Elavatione Musical Characteristics

designed to be played during the elevation of the host at a catholic mass. slower tempo compared to other toccatas, lighter feel, intense dissonances and descending half steps that represent grief and hope.

The Four Seasons Context

composed when vivaldi was court chapel master in Mantua, inspired by countryside of Mantua. first examples of program music (narrative elements) as it was published with accompanying sonnets.

Four Seasons Musical Characteristics

three movements: allegro, largo e piannisimo sempre, and allegro pastoral (fast, slow, fast). demanding solo parts, clear phrasing, rhythmic drive. sounds represent species of birds, creeks, and other natural sounds. solo violin w string orchestra, continuo, and harpsichord. more flashy solo parts.

Concerto Grosso in G Minor Context

corelli served all major roman patrons, leader of roman performance with large instrumental ensembles. shift from polychoral works to seprated voices and instruments arranged by section. composed for performance on christmas eve.

Concerto Grosso in G Minor Musical Characteristics

concerto grosso texture with back and forth between concertino (two violins and cello) and ripieno, full ensemble. modeled on sonata de chiesa, or the church sonata. influenced by handel and bach. ritornello form in fast movements: alternates tuttio ritornello with solo. dissonances and highly expressive. walking eighth note bass line in concertino to open movement. introductory passage followed by grave movement in stile antico. gravitates toward closely related keys, dominant and relative minor. first moement close to allemanda. third movement in da capo form. final pastorale movement based on countryside and shepards, slow giga, 12/8 and skipping rhythm.

Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major Musical Characteristics

concertino of flute, violin, and harpsichord, unique. solo harpsichord part likely performed by bach himself, showcasing his great skill. shows possibilities of he harpsichord. considered first keyboard concerto in western music. rhythmic drive, largely associated with bach. second movement is just concertino. third movement is in ABA form.

Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major Context

written for Christian Ludwig, the Margrave of Brandenburg Schwedt, ever acknowledged works and bach was never paid. composed over many years.

A False Designe to be Cruelle Context

wealthy family with connections, uncle discovered circulatory system, father associated with east india trading company. wrote songs for solo voice that were lyrical. henry lawes dedicated second book of airs to her and published her work, first woman in england.

Great Parent Hail Context

ode to trinity college dublin. purcell associated with anglican church and his odes exemplify resoration style along with protestant liturgical needs.

flow my tears context

pubished in dowlands second book of lute songs, or ayres. sets lyrics to melody of the lachrimae pavan, instrumental pavan by dowland at this time. piece reflects early modern, specifically male, fascination melancholy. written during an era of the suppression of music, religious persection and censorship. song is allegory for these feelings and alienation. may reflect pressures of being composer in religiously divided society.

flow my tears musical characteristics

both a vocal and instrumental composition. mournful established in first measure through signature dowland tear motive, a stepwise descending tetrachord from a to e. c major in second section hints to poptimism. unfinished feeling due to use of fifth.

come again sweet love doth now invite musical characteristics

word painting, expressive singing, literally sighing on “sigh.” strophic style. call and response.

trio sonata no 1. in g major: moderato musical characteristics

two violins and continuo. lighter texture. slow and flowing rather than driving. moderate tempo.

dido and aeneas musical characteristics