Exploring Music Quiz 3 Full Notes PDF

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Full notes for the 3rd quiz. Professor Ephraim Schafli....

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THE BAROQUE ERA (1600-1750): “misshapen pearl” artists want to engage you in drama Opera is the 1st artform that combines dancing, music, sets etc - revolutionized culture Louis XIV of france - sun king (apollo) patron of the arts Ballet - dancing on stage to the accompaniment of an orchestra Trends: the love of details, drama, dissonance ● Artistic pursuits increasingly became an occupation of the middle classes as these emerged. People who were not aristocrats or part of the church gradually acquired the wealth and leisure time to pursue arts at home ● 1st operas were created in castles for the kings ● 1637 in venice the 1st public opera house ○ Lets the classes mix for the 1st time ○ 1st place to conduct business ● Rise of the virtuoso musician ○ Instruments makers improve instruments ■ Performers respond w virtuosic technique ■ Composers respond with more demanding music ■ Improvisation still an expected skill ○ Vocal virtuosity ■ Castrati - little boys voice that can sing high and loud ● Doctrine of the affections: a set of aesthetic beliefs governing the arts ○ Art was seen as capable of arousing specific affections ○ Affections were seens as stable states of the soul and as being made up of various “spirits” or “humors.” these were set in motion through the sense and combined to create affections ○ Experiencing lots of different affections was thought to promote physical and psychological health, and art was a way of bringing that about ● Rise of homophony ● Opera and performing grief ○ Opera is not meant for realistic depiction. It’s hyper reality ○ Music can enhance he emotions and make drama more effective ○ Music is still used to enhance emotions in entertainment today ● Basso continuo ○ Small ensemble that plays almost continuously while the rest of the orchestra starts and stops as necessary ○ Provides a bass line and harmonies ● Recitative: moves the plot along with speech-like singing. Fewer notes = less time needed ● Aria: pauses the plot. Tuneful and lyrical emotional releases featuring the music ● Ensemble numbers and choruses ● Orchestra provides overture and sinfonias ● Chorus: job is to interpret the play ● Ostinato bass: also called ground bass. A bit of music that constantly repeats. Usually on the same pitches

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Barbara strozzi: adopted daughter poet giulio strozzi; wrote about 125 works Women are being trained by musicians, only as performers (not composers) Trio sonata: 2 melody instruments + basso coninuo. Music in 3 parts requiring 4 performers ● Chamber music: meant for performance at private gatherings in relatively small rooms or “chambers” requires just a few performers ● Form: a b a b a ● Improvisation ● Antonio vivaldi (the red priest) ● Concerto: based on opposing two bodies of sound ○ Contrasts one or more “featured” soloists with a larger orchestral ensemble ■ 3 movements: fast - slow - fast ● Fast movements use the ritornello principle ○ Alternating sections for full orchestra (tutti, italian for all) with sections for soloists ○ Each return of the tutti is called a ritornello (little or brief return) ● The four seasons is a group of 4 solo violin concertos each named for a season ○ Each concerto is accompanied by a poem; the music tries to capture the imagery of the poem ● Instrumental music is now seen as capable of creating meaning through patterns of sound (no words needed) and is increasingly seen as equal to vocal music in prestige ● Program music is instrumental music that has been provided with extra musical associations ● Composer bach had 10 of his children dead - music tried to do more than just entertain, can provide answers ● Timbres change as a result of oregon The fugue and its devices ● Fuge: a polyphonic piece in which a single melody pervades the entire fabric ● The subject is first heard alone and then imitated in all other voices (called answers) ● Once all voices have had the subject the fugal exposition is over ● The exposition is followed by a series of episodes - adding variety ● Concerto grosso: group of soloists vs orchestra - bach’s brandenburg concerto no 2 Fuge: 1st section (fugal exposition - all voices play), episode, middle entry Continuous returning of orchestra: ritornello Handel: elector of hanover, very famous in his day, italian operas, not religious but wrote oratorios to make money Oratorio - musically identical to operas but on a biblical theme and without scenery costumes or acting Takes it from being a secular spectacle to a bland religious piece Recitative: section of text, minimum music accomp, speeds up plot Auria pauses plot to get inside character’s heads

Quiz review Baroque - misshapen pearl, engage in drama, opera created - place to conduct business, ballet, virtuoso music, doctrine of affections ● ● ● ● ●

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Monteverdi: orpheus, worked at court duke of manuta, 1st opera Purcell: dido and aeneas, created an opera ,much different than previous ones (lasts less than an hour Strozzi: revenge, wrote 125 works; 1st woman to write an opera in french Vivaldi: the 4 seasons Winter - captures imagery; known for his red hair, wore wigs, 450 concertos, also famous violinist Bach: brandenburg, fuge composed masterpieces in all genres except opera; made music to try and provide people with answers not just to entertain (10 of his children died), used hands instead of baton when conducting Handel: messiah, hallelujah, elector of hanover, very famous, wrote oratorios even though he wasn’t religious, profit oriented

Opera: “hyper reality” not realistic, enhance emotions, homophonic texture and basso continuo Recitative: speechlike singing. Fewer notes, faster Aria: pauses the plot. Tuneful and long (orchestra provides overtures and sinfonias (played at beginning) Libretto = opera script Trio sonata: 2 melody instruments + basso continuo (requires 4 performers) Chamber music: meant for performance in private, small rooms (ABABA; ABA’B’A”) Basso continuo: small ensemble that plays continuously Concerto: based on opposing 2 bodies of sound (soloist v larger ensemble) 3 movements Ritornello: alternating sections for full orchestra (tutti = all), “brief return,” used by fast movements Program music: instrumental music that has been provided with extra musical associations Fuge: polyphonic with a single melody (subject) pervades entire fabric; combine predictable material with new ideas Subject 1st heard alone then imitated in other voices - answers, imitated Fugal exposition is over once all the voices have finished the subject Episodes - parts where subject is not strongly present - follow the exposition Subject is dropped and replace w new material, adds variety Episodes are interspersed with reappearances (middle entrance) of the subject Subject returns in one or more voices, allows for continuity Oratorio: musically identical to opera but on biblical theme...