Baroque Era Musical Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering Baroque musical terms, textures, and vocal styles from the lesson transcript.

Oratorio

A large scale work developed in the Baroque era for soloists, chorus, and orchestra generally based on a serious subject. Consists of recitatives, arias, ensembles, and choruses.

French overture

A Baroque instrumental genre in 2 parts; the first part is in a slow, homophonic texture featuring dotted rhythms, and the second part is faster and in an imitative texture.

Da capo aria

The most common song type in Baroque opera and oratorio. Features a 3 part structure (ABA), where the return of A is generally ornamented.

Homorhythmic texture

A texture in which all voices sing in the same rhythm, resulting in a blocked chordal texture.

Libretto

The text of an opera, oratorio, or cantata, usually written by someone other than the composer.

Melisma

A group of notes sung on a single syllable, often demonstrating vocal technique and virtuosity.

Recitativo secco

A speech-like style of singing accompanied only by continuo.

Recitativo accompagnato

A speech-like style of singing accompanied by orchestra.