Arts: Medieval Period to Baroque Music (MAPEH 9)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Medieval period through Baroque music as described in the lecture notes.

Medieval Period

Also called the Middle Ages or Dark Ages; lasted from the 5th to the 15th century CE, from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the Renaissance.

Monks

Religious men who lived in monasteries and often copied manuscripts, using valuable materials for church works.

Cloister

Open spaces or gardens surrounded by a covered walkway in a monastery, used for meditation, study, and exercise.

Monasteries

Centers of learning housing religious orders where monks lived in quiet reflection and prayer.

Manuscripts

Hand-copied books produced before the printing press, often decorated with drawings to aid understanding.

Vladimir Madonna

A Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary that was copied and spread to different countries.

Icon

A small panel painting depicting sacred figures; a Byzantine contribution to art.

Byzantine Art

Art of the Eastern Roman Empire characterized by flat figures, mosaics, and central-plan churches with a Christian focus.

Central Plan Church

Church design with a central, often circular or symmetrical layout, interior mosaics, and simple exterior.

Hagia Sophia

Masterpiece of Byzantine architecture known for its domes and grandeur.

Church of San Vitale

A Byzantine church in Ravenna noted for its outstanding mosaics and architecture.

Empress Theodora and Attendants

A famous mosaic in St. Vitale depicting Empress Theodora and her attendants.

Emperor Justinian and Entourage

A famous mosaic in St. Vitale showing Emperor Justinian and his entourage.

Colossal of Constantine

A well-known Byzantine-era structure referenced in the notes (as listed).

Romanesque Art

Art style of roughly the 11th–12th centuries characterized by heavy walls, thick masses, and rounded arches; churches were dark and solid.

Basilica of Saint-Sernin

A well-known Romanesque church exemplifying symmetry and geometric simplicity.

Gothic Art

European art and architecture from the 12th to 15th centuries characterized by pointed arches, flying buttresses, and verticality; extensive stained glass.

Cathedral

The principal church of a diocese; a major Gothic architectural achievement.

Pointed arches

Arches that converge to a point, allowing taller, more graceful walls and structures.

Flying buttress

External supports that transfer weight away from the walls, enabling higher, lighter interiors with more windows.

Stained glass

Colored glass used in windows to depict religious scenes and let in colorful light.

Baroque music

Western art music roughly from 1600 to 1750; ornate, tonal, and expansive, giving rise to opera, cantata, oratorio, concerto, and sonata.

Tonality

System of major/minor keys establishing the key center, central to Baroque harmony.

Ornamentation

Decorative notes (e.g., trills, turns) added to melodies for expression.

Continuo

Harpsichord and/or lute-based accompaniment with figured bass supporting the harmony.

Concerto Grosso

Early form of concerto with a small group (concertino) contrasting with a larger ensemble (ripieno).

Concertino

The small group of soloists in a concerto grosso.

Ripieno

The larger ensemble in a concerto grosso.

Sonata

A piece for one instrument (often with accompaniment) typically in multiple movements.

Suite

A set of dances grouped together, usually including Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, and Gigue (plus others like Minuet/Prelude).

Allemande

A moderate German dance commonly part of a Baroque suite.

Courante

A lively dance in triple meter included in a Baroque suite.

Sarabande

A slow, stately dance in triple meter, emphasizing the second beat.

Gigue

A lively dance in compound meter, often the final movement of a suite.

Fugue

A contrapuntal composition where a theme (subject) enters imitatively in each voice.

Da capo aria

A solo vocal piece with instrumental accompaniment that returns to the initial section.

Recitative

A speech-like style of singing used to advance the plot in opera.

Opera

Large-scale dramatic vocal work combining text and music; became prominent in the Baroque period.

Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach; quintessential Baroque composer known for complex polyphony.

Handel

George Frideric Handel; Baroque composer famous for operas, oratorios, and instrumental works like Messiah.

Monteverdi

Italian composer who bridged Renaissance and Baroque; wrote L’Orfeo, one of the first operas.

L’Orfeo

Early opera by Monteverdi; one of the earliest operas still regularly performed.

Oratorio

Large-scale sacred vocal work for voices and orchestra, performed without staging.

Cantata

Vocal composition with instrumental accompaniment, often sacred and multi-movement.

Mass

Musical setting of the liturgical Eucharistic service.

Anthem

Choral work; in Baroque context, often sacred vocal music.