RCM History 9

Baroque

• from the Portuguese barroco meaning "irregularly shaped or misshapen pearl"

• first used as a derogatory term in reference to the overly ornate art of the era

• now applied to art, architecture, and music of the 17th and early 18th centuries

basso continuo

• baroque performance practice

• generally involves two performers — one playing the notated baseline, one realizing the harmonies as indicated by the figured bass

• harmonies usually play on harpsichord or organ

• provides harmonic framework

figured bass

• a musical shorthand developed in the Baroque era

• numbers are placed below the baseline to show harmonic progression

• performed or realized by the basso continuo

• provides a structure for guided improvisation

the Affections

• also referred to as the "doctrine of affections" or the "affects"

• a Baroque philosophy inspired by ancient Greek and Roman writers and orators

• refers to emotional states of the soul

• in Baroque music, a single "affection" or "affect" (one clear emotion) is usually projected through an entire composition of movement

ornamentation

• music embellishment to decorate a melodic line

• either represented with symbols or improvised

monophonic texture

• a single line of unaccompanied melody

polyphonic texture

• a combination of two or more melodic lines

homophonic texture

• a single line of melody supported by a harmonic accompaniment

concerto

• a popular instrumental genre of the Baroque era for soloists and orchestra

• generally in three movements: fast-slow-fast

• frequently employed ritarnello form

• intended to showcase the virtuosity of the soloists

ritornello form

• a structure employed in the first and third movement of the baroque concerto

• the opening passage is restated throughout the movement serving as a refrain

ripieno

• Italian for "full" or "complete"

• a term used to denote the use of the full orchestra in the baroque concerto

ostinato

• Italian for "obstinate" or "persistent"

• a rhythmic or melodic pattern repeated for an extended period

pedal point

• a note, or series of notes, sustained through harmony changes in other parts

programmatic writing

• music with a descriptive element, inspired by extramusical associations, like a story or painting

• evolved into a significant feature of 19th-century instrumental writing (program music)

idiomatic writing

• highlights the unique technical capabilities of an instrument in the style of writing

• opposite of "generic"

• developed in the Baroque era

binary form

• two-part form: A || B ||

• both parts often repeat

• section A generally ends with an open cadence in the dominant or relative major key

rounded binary form

• two-part form: A || B + A₁ ||

• opening material from Section A returns after B material

• key structure similar to binary form

ternary form

• three-part form: A || B || A ||

• section A generally ends with a closed cadence in the tonic key

• section B generally creates contrast in key and/or material

• often used in Baroque arias and Classical menuet and trio movements

equal temperament

• a method of tuning keyboard instruments

• the octave is divided into twelve equal semitones

• facilitated the composition and performance of music in all keys

clavier

• a German word for keyboard instruments other than the organ

prelude

• a short keyboard work in improvisatory style

• often paired with a fugue

fugue

• a highly structured, imitative contrapuntal composition

• a single theme or subject prevails

counterpoint

• combination of two or more independent melodic lines

• also referred to as "polyphonic texture"

subject

• the initial statement of the main theme of a fugue

• in the tonic key

answer

• the second statement of the main theme in a fugue

• usually in the dominant key

real answer

• an exact transposition of the subject

tonal answer

• a statement of the subject in which one or more intervals is adjusted to accommodate the harmony

countersubject

• a recurring countermelody

• accompanies entries of the subject and answer

episode

• a passage within a fugue in which neither subject nor answer is present

• frequently sequential

oratorio

• a large-scale work for soloists, chorus, and orchestra

• serious subject, generally based on biblical texts

• consists of recitatives, arias, ensembles, and choruses

• developed in the Baroque era

French overture

• a Baroque orchestral genre, often the orchestral introduction to an opera or oratorio

• first developed at the court of Louis XIV by Jean-Baptiste Lully

• generally in two parts

• first part—slow tempo, homophonic texture, features dotted figures

• second part—fast tempo, imitative texture

libretto

• the text of an opera, oratorio, or cantata

• usually written by someone other than the composer

recitative

• a speech-like style of singing used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas

• follows inflections of the text, resulting in rhythms flexibility

• usually used to advance the plot or storyline; moves through text quickly

recitativo secco

• Italian for "dry recitative"

• a speech-like, declamatory style of singing

• supported only by continuo

• employed in opera, oratorio, and cantata

recitativo accompagnato

• Italian for "accompanied recitative"

• a speech-like, declamatory style of singing

• supported by instrumental ensemble or orchestra

• allows for greater connection with the text

• employed in opera, oratorio, and cantata

aria

• Italian for "air"

• a solo song with accompaniment, heard in an opera, oratorio, or cantata

• highly emotional and often virtuosic

• may have lyrical or dramatic qualities; often serves to reveal the characters' most intimate emotions

da capo aria

• an aria (solo song) employing a ternary (ABA) structure

• in performance, the return of Section A is generally ornamented

• the most common type of aria in Baroque opera and oratorio

word painting

• musical pictorialization

• the music mirrors the literal meaning of the words

• achieved through melody, harmony, or rhythm

melisma

• a group of notes sung on a single syllable/vowel