Music Appreciation- The Baroque Period

Affections

Emotional state

Unity of mood/ Doctrine of affections

A single emotional state

Opera

Drama that is sung to orchestral accompaniment

vocal soloist,

orchestral chores

costumes

scenery

Oratorio 

Large scale composition for chorus 

• vocal soloist

• chorus 

• consumes

• scenery 

Oratorio

Large scale composition for chorus

vocal soloists

orchestra

narrative text

there is no acting scenery and they are base on Biblical stories

Overture

Short musical composition, purely orchestral, which opens an opera and serves the overall dramatic mood.

Recitative 

Vocal line in an opera, oratorio, or cantata that initiates the rhythms and pitch fluctuations of speech, often serving to lead into an aria

Aria

song for solo voice with orchestral accompaniment expressing an emotional state through its outpouring of melody; found in operas, oratorios, and cantatas

Da Capo aria

aria ABC form; after the B section the Da Capo is written; from the beginning and indicating a repetition of the opening A

Libretto

Text from opera 

Fugue

polyphonic composition bases on one main theme, or subject

Subject

Theme of a fugue

Diminution

Variation of a fugue subject in which the original time values of the subject are shortened

Baroque period dates ( 1600-1750)

Time of prosperity and cultural expansion in Western Europe, ornate art, music, and design 

Cantata

Written for chorus

One or more vocal soloists

instrumentals ensemble

The church cantata for the Lutheran service in Germany during the baroque period often includes chorales

Chorale

Hymn tune sung to a German religious text

Basso Continuo 

Baroque accompaniment mad up of a bass part usually played by two instruments, keyboard plus a low melodic instrument 

Figured bass

bass part of baroque accompaniment with figures/numbers above it indicating the chords to be played

Concerto grosso

Composition for several instrumentals soloists and small orchestra, common in the baroque music

Tutti

A word in Italian, all; full orchestra or large group of musicians contrasted with a small group; Baroque music

Terraced dynamics

abrupt alternation b/w loud and soft dynamic level

Handel’s Messiah

oratorio and composed by George Handel

Well-Tempered Clavier

Written by Johann Sebastian, 2 sets of preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys 

Sequence

In a melody, the immediate repetition of a melodic pattern on high or low pitch

Movement

piece that sound fairly complete and independent but is a part of a larger composition

oratorio vs. Opera?

Oratorios:                                             

orchestral

vocal soloist

chorus

costumes

scenery

Opera:

orchestral

vocal soloist

narrative texts

not acting

Biblical stories

Cantata Vs. Oratorio 

Cantata:

• shorter 

• straight forward 

• church sacred or secular

• modest instruments 

Oratorio:

• Longer 

• complex

• concert setting and no theatrical elements 

• religious theme

• larger musical force 

Trill

rapid alternation of two tomes that are a whole or half step apart

Baroque Melodies

major/minor tonality, repetition, and development of short melodic phrases

Castrato 

Male singer castrated before puberty 

Countertenor

Male who sings a female pitch range using special kind of voice production

Suite

Baroque music, set of dance-inspired movements

Who was Bach ?

He was best known as his lifetime as an organist

What is the sequence of movements in a concerto?

Fast, Slow, Fast tempos.

• The first movement is usually in sonata form and features a cadenza

• Second: movement is slow and lyrical

•  The finale is a fast, often flashy, movement, frequently in rondo form. 

How many operas did Back write?

0 operas and he wrote oratorios and cantata

Was a cantata part of the Lutheran church service ?

Yes it was and they were part of the German services

How many players are in a Baroque trio sonata ?

4

Who wrote the Four seasons?

Antonio Vivaldi

How many movement are typically on a concerto?

three movements: a fast movement, followed by a slow, lyrical movement, and ending with a final fast movement

What were the two main keyboard instruments of the Baroque period?

harpsichord and violin

Oratorios are usually based on what kind of text? (Remember, Messiah is an exception)

From the Old Testament and New Testament

What language are Handel’s oratorios in? What about his operas?

• Oratorios were in English

• Operas in Italian

When was piano invented ?

It was not invented until late in the Baroque period 

Who wrote,” organ Fugue in G minor ( Little Fugue)?

Genre?

Form?

What instruments are heard?

• Bach

• Organ music

• solo organ and soprano and alto heard on the manual keyboards and the tenor and bass parts played on the pedals

Who wrote “Toccata and Fugue in D minor?”

Genre?

Form?

what instruments?

Bach

Baroque organ music 

ABA

Organ

Who wrote “Dido’s Lament?”

Instruments heard?

Genre?

Form ?

• Purcell

• mezzo-soprano voice accompanied by a string orchestra and a ground continuo of harpsichord and cello to create its somber mood

• opera aria from the Baroque period

• Lamento form

starts with recitative, then aria at 1:02

Who wrote Spring from The Four Seasons?

Instruments heard ?

Genre?

Form?

• Vivaldi

• a solo violin, a string ensemble (including violins, violas, and cellos), and a harpsichord to provide the basso continuo

• Program music

• Ritornello form 

Who wrote Hallelujah chorus from the Messiah ?

Instruments heard?

Genre?

Form?

Instruments?

• George Handel

• Oratorio 

• The form is complicated since it varies a lot

• (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) choir, accompanied by an orchestra including strings, oboes, bassoons, trumpets, and timpani, along with a basso continuo for harmonic support