Music History I Final

What was the most important secular genre of the sixteenth century?

The Italian Madrigal

What is the form of a typical madrigal?

Single stanza, through-composed (free-form)

Who was a notable early madrigal composer?

Jacques Arcadelt

What was the goal of the Petrarchan Movement in music?

To recreate the different sounds in Petrarch's poetry.

What musical technique is used to portray grief and sorrow in madrigals?

Chromaticism

Who was a leading composer of madrigals at the end of the sixteenth century?

Luca Marenzio

What is a madrigalism?

Literal vocal depictions of individual words in music.

Who was a major composer of lute songs?

John Dowland

What form is Dowland's 'Flow, my tears' based on?

Pavane form (aabbCC)

What was the most common genre of instrumental music in the Middle Ages?

Dancing music

What is an estampie?

The most common dance form in the medieval period, consisting of several sections played twice.

What does the term 'haut' and 'bas' refer to in music?

Haut refers to high/loud instruments, and bas refers to low/soft instruments.

What is a toccata?

An improvisatory keyboard genre.

What is a ricercare?

A motet-like succession of imitative sections.

What is a canzona?

A light, fast-moving, strongly rhythmic piece of music.

What was the impact of the Thirty Years' War on Germany?

Germany was devastated by this religious conflict from 1618 to 1648.

How did capitalism influence music making during the Baroque period?

It created an environment conducive to music making through opera houses, sheet music, and private lessons.

What does the term 'Baroque' originally mean?

It means abnormal, exaggerated, or in bad taste, derived from the Portuguese term for 'misshapen pearl.'

What is the primary value of Baroque art, theater, and music?

Drama.

What does the Doctrine of Affections refer to in Baroque music?

It refers to the idea that external stimuli cause emotions, and music can balance these emotions. Affections = Passions

What notation system became prevalent in Baroque music?

Figured bass notation, which specifies melody and bass with figures indicating chords.

Who was Claudio Monteverdi and what was his contribution to music?

An Italian composer who spanned the Renaissance and Baroque, known for developing opera as a popular form.

What is the definition of opera?

A union of versified play and music with continuous singing, staged with scenery, costumes, and action.

What were the Renaissance antecedents to opera?

Pastoral drama, madrigals, and intermedios, which included music in plays.

What was the role of the Florentine Camerata in the development of opera?

A group of scholars who discussed literature and arts, concluding that Greek music had a single melody for emotional communication.

What is monody in the context of Baroque music?

Accompanied solo singing focusing on melody and basso continuo, ideal for emotional expression.

What is considered the first opera and who composed it?

'Dafne' by Jacopo Peri, written in 1598.

What is the significance of Monteverdi's 'L'Orfeo'?

It was the first work to show the potential of opera, commissioned for a performance in Mantua.

What is recitative in opera?

A speech-song style that is halfway between oration and song, used to portray dramatic parts.

What is the significance of the term 'air' in Baroque music?

A lyrical singing style that is often strophic and tuneful, introduced by an instrumental section.

What significant change occurred in opera during the 1620s?

Rome became the center of opera.

What are the two main components that became more defined in opera?

Recitative and aria.

When did the first public theaters open in Venice?

In 1637.

What is a libretto in the context of opera?

The text for operas, often chosen for dramatic content and special effects.

What is the typical structure of operas during this period?

A 3-act structure with limited choruses and dances due to financial constraints.

How is an aria typically characterized?

Strophic, smooth, diatonic, with easy rhythms and string accompaniment.

What is a cantata?

A secular composition on a lyrical text, usually containing multiple arias and recitative sections.

Who was Barbara Strozzi?

A Venetian singer and composer known for publishing more cantatas than any other composer of her time.

What is the significance of Palestrina's style?

It is referred to as 'stile antico,' associated with reverence and tradition in Catholic sacred music.

What is an oratorio?

A religious dramatic music form incorporating narrative, dialogue, and commentary, typically not staged.

Who was Giacomo Carissimi?

A leading composer of Latin oratorios in the 17th century.

What is the difference between a fugue and a fantasia?

A fugue treats one theme in continuous imitation, while a fantasia is an imitative work on a larger scale.

What does the term 'mean-tone temperament' refer to?

A tuning system for keyboards that results in uneven spacing between pitches.

What is the early 17th-century definition of a sonata?

Any piece for instruments, later reserved for pieces with specific characteristics.

What characterized the French Baroque style?

It was more elegant and restrained compared to the emotional expression of the Italian style.

How did King Louis XIV influence music in France?

He sponsored musical innovation, centralizing the monarchy's role in music.

What is the Court Ballet?

A musical dramatic performance with several acts, requiring nobility to participate alongside professional dancers.

What were the three divisions of music employed by Louis XIV?

Music of the Royal Chapel, music of the Chamber, and music of the Great Stable.

Who was Jean-Baptiste Lully?

A dancer and court composer who established the Tragédie Lyrique and blended ballet with opera.

What is Tragédie Lyrique?

A genre of opera established by Lully, featuring sung drama with chivalric tales and divertissements.

What is a French Overture?

An instrumental prelude characterized by a slow first section followed by a faster second section, often used in Lully's operas.

What are the key characteristics of Lully's music?

Use of major and minor keys, predictable harmonic progressions, and performance practices like overdotting and note inégales.

What is the structure of a typical suite in Baroque music?

A set of dances grouped together, often including movements like Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, and Gigue.

Who was Elisabeth-Claude Jaquet De la Guerre?

A French composer and child prodigy who performed for Louis XIV and composed various works including operas and keyboard pieces.

What is the affective character of the Sarabande?

Tender, proud, and noble, originally a fast dance from Latin America.

Who was Henry Purcell?

An English composer known for his vocal music and for spending his life in service to the English monarchy.

What is the significance of Dido and Aeneas?

An opera by Purcell that features a ground bass aria, symbolizing descent to the grave.

What stylistic changes occurred in Germany during the late 17th century?

Composers added French and Italian elements to German styles, leading to an international style.

What is the Courante?

A fast dance in triple or compound meter, characterized by a dignified movement.

What is the Gigue?

A lively dance originating from the British Isles, characterized by a fast tempo and continuous triplet movement.

What is the affective character of the Allemande?

Serious, moderately fast dance in 4/4 time, beginning with an upbeat.

What is the affective character of the Courante?

Witty, with a crescendo of energy compared to the Allemande.

What was the original tempo of the Sarabande?

Originally a fast dance, it was stylized into a slow tempo emphasizing the second beat.

What became more important in opera during the Baroque period?

Arias became more important, showcasing superstar singers.

What is the Da Capo Aria form?

A musical form with an ABA' structure that allows for embellishment and emotional contrast.

Who composed over 600 cantatas and many arias in Da Capo form?

Alessandro Scarlatti.

What is the significance of the instrumental ritornello in the Da Capo Aria?

It introduces small divisions in the form and reflects changes in emotion.

What are the two types of sonatas developed by the 1660s?

Sonata da camera (chamber sonata) and sonata da chiesa (church sonata).

What is the typical instrumentation of a trio sonata?

Two soprano voices and a basso continuo with two instruments, one keyboard, and an additional bass instrument.

Who was Arcangelo Corelli and what was his contribution to music?

A violinist who established the foundation for violin playing and wrote many works including trio sonatas and concerto grossos.

What is the typical form of Corelli's sonatas?

A four-movement form (slow, fast, slow, fast) with a focus on lyricism.

What are the three types of concertos that emerged in Italy?

Orchestral concerto, concerto grosso, and solo concerto.

Who is Antonio Vivaldi and what is he known for?

Italy's best-known composer of the early 18th century, primarily remembered for his violin concertos.

What was the Pio Ospedale Della Pieta?

An orphanage in Venice that taught music to girls, preparing them for marriage or the convent.

What is the structure of Vivaldi's concertos?

Typically follows a three-movement structure: fast, slow, fastest.

What is Ritornello form?

A musical form where a ritornello melody alternates with solo sections, typically in concertos.

What is Rococo music and how does it differ from Baroque?

A more playful and intimate style, heavily ornamented, serving as a transition between Baroque and Classical music.

Who was Francois Couperin and what was his contribution?

An organist and composer known for French trio sonatas and harpsichord music and use of the rococo style

Treatise 

Triads and dominant 7th chords, with a focus on dissonance and resolution.

What is the significance of the dominant 7th to tonic progression in tonal theory?

It is considered the strongest progression in establishing harmony.

What is Johann Sebastian Bach known for?

Being one of the most significant composers of the Baroque period, known for his organ music and complex compositions.

What is the significance of Bach's 'The Well-Tempered Clavier'?

It consists of two books with 24 preludes and fugues in every major and minor key, serving as a teaching tool and advertisement for keyboard playing.

What is a fugue?

An imitative musical form in which a subject is stated successively in all voices.

What is the structure of a typical Bach organ work?

Often organized as a prelude or toccata followed by a fugue.

What is the purpose of Bach's cantatas?

To serve a sacred function, often setting Biblical and liturgical texts, and reinforcing the day's Gospel reading.

What are some characteristics of Handel's operas?

Plots based on Roman heroes or Crusades, accompanied recitative for tense situations, and da capo arias representing a single mood.

What is the significance of Handel's oratorios?

They are sacred entertainments based on biblical stories, performed during Lent, and cheaper to stage than operas.

What is the most famous oratorio composed by Handel?

The 'Messiah', known for its unbroken tradition of performance since its premiere.

How did Handel's style differ from Bach's?

Handel's style is less contrapuntal, featuring alternated sections of fugal texture with block harmonies, making it easier to sing.

What was the role of the chorus in Handel's oratorios?

To participate in the action, narrate the story, and comment on events.

What is the 'Goldberg Variations'?

A set of variations for harpsichord composed by Bach, showcasing his compositional mastery.

What is the significance of the 'Art of Fugue'?

It is a collection of fugues and canons by Bach, demonstrating his expertise in counterpoint.

What is the significance of the 'Sarabande' from Handel's Suite pour Clavecin No. 4?

It exemplifies Handel's instrumental music style and is known for its expressive qualities.

What is the impact of Vivaldi on Bach's music?

Bach was influenced by Vivaldi's violinistic figuration and the organization of fugues resembling ritornello structure.

What is the BWV catalog?

Bach Werke Verzeichnis, a catalog of Bach's works.

What significant event in music history premiered at an orphanage in Ireland?

The premiere of Handel's 'Messiah'.

What was the impact of the Enlightenment on music?

It led to a universal musical style that blended features from all nations.

What was a major social change in Europe during the Enlightenment?

The rise of a middle class that became public patrons of the arts.

What does 'Empfindsamkeit' refer to in music?

It refers to the 'sentimental style' characterized by emotional expressiveness.

What is the defining characteristic of the Galant style?

It emphasizes modernity and sophistication with simple harmonies and short phrases.