CH'S 6-11 terms to know for Test 2

absolutism (and age of science) (116)

1600-1750 (baroque period) or AGE OF ABSOLUTISM. This was the time of belief in the divine right of kings, the idea that the right of kings to rule was absolute because they were chosen by God. Absolutism & science were 2 of the most vital currents that defined early 18th centuries

STYLIZED DANCES

2 new types of music evolved in this period, secular madrigals, and STYLIZED DANCES. STYLIZED DANCES, were instrumental music named after the dance steps that inspired them such as galliard and jig but were meant for listening rather than dancing. EX: KEMPS'S JIG

ritornello form

A Baroque musical form based on recurrences of a ritornello (133) Ritornello: The orchestral material at the beginning of a concerto grosso, etc., which always returns later in the piece (133)

GALLIARD

A Renaissance court dance in triple meter (91) 2 new types of music evolved in this period, secular madrigals, and stylized dances. Stylized Dances, were instrumental music named after the dance steps that inspired them such as GALLIARD and jig but were meant for listening rather than dancing.

jongleur(s)

A medieval secular musician (58)

dance suite (sarabande, minuet, gavotte, bourree', gigue)

A piece consisting of a series of dances (108, 147)

movement

A self-contained section of a larger piece, such as a symphony or concerto grosso (133)

opera seria

A term for the serious, heroic opera of the Baroque period in Italy (155, 210) Handel traveled to England and met with great success and public acclaim. He settled in Britain and became rich and famous composing the accepted style of opera, Opera Seria. (Opera based on libretto's taken from Ancient Greek and Roman stories). Julius Caesar is one of his most successful operas and is described in your textbook. Opera seria is the traditional style of opera started in the 1600's by composers such as Monteverdi. These operas are based on historically- inaccurate versions of old Greek and Roman stories and myths such as Julius Caesar, and Orpheus and the Underworld. (The new style in the late 18th century was called Opera Buffa).

cadenza

An improvised passage for the soloist in a concerto, or sometimes in other works. Concerto cadenzas usually come near the ends of movements (140, 205).

basso ostinato

An ostinato in the bass (99, 137) Ostinato: A motive, phrase, or theme repeated over and over again (99, 112, 137, 338)

Vivaldi's Violin Concerto

Antonio Vivaldi was known as "The Red Priest" due to his wearing bright red vestments during church services.

ARIA & recitative (important forms of singing in opera)

Aria: A vocal number for solo singer and orchestra, generally in an opera, cantata, or oratorio (102, 157) Recitative (reh-sih-ta-téev): A half-singing, half-reciting style of presenting words in opera, cantata, oratorio, etc., following speech accents and speech rhythms closely. Secco recitative is accompanied only by continuo; accompanied recitative is accompanied by orchestra (98, 151, 152, 156)

trouveres/troubadour

Aristocratic poet-musicians of the Middle Ages (64) The secular music (anything not religious in nature) of the Middle Ages was very different from Gregorian Chants. These love songs were composed by Troubadours as they were called in France, TROUVERES' in the north countries, and Minnesingers in Germany. (Minne means love-singers). Songs about love are still the biggest sellers for modern-day record companies).

troubadour/trouvères

Aristocratic poet-musicians of the Middle Ages (64) but TROUBADOUR songs are more "foot-tapping" melodies and were accompanied by drums or instruments. music of the Roman Catholic church called "Gregorian Chant" and popular music created by musicians such as the "Troubadour

concerto

Concerto, solo concerto: A large composition for orchestra and solo instrument (133)

basso continuo (99)

Continuo (basso continuo): (1) A set of chords continuously underlying the melody in a piece of Baroque music; (2) the instrument(s) playing the continuo, usually cello plus harpsichord or organ (99, 129)

opera (baroque period)

Drama presented in music, with the characters singing instead of speaking (100, 154) The most important new form of music in this era was opera, a drama in which the story is told entirely in singing, accompanied by orchestra.

Estampie (stamp your foot dance music)

Estampie (ess-tom-pée): An instrumental dance of the Middle Ages (66)

chorale

German for hymn; also used for a four-part harmonization of a Lutheran hymn, such as Bach composed in his Cantata No. 4 and other works (165)

ground bass (99, 137)

Ground bass: An ostinato in the bass (99, 137) Ostinato: A motive, phrase, or theme repeated over and over again

Julius Caesar - (The Opera )

Handel traveled to England and met with great success and public acclaim. He settled in Britain and became rich and famous composing the accepted style of opera, Opera Seria. (Opera based on libretto's taken from Ancient Greek and Roman stories). Julius Caesar is one of his most successful operas and is described in your textbook.

castrato SINGER

Immediately tied up with Italian Opera Seria was the CASTRATO SINGER. (PL: CASTRATI). THE STARRING MALE ROLES IN OPERA. AT IT'S EST THE CASTRATO VOICE was a prized virtuosos instrument, more powerful and brillant than a woman's soprano.

STYLIZED DANCES (MINUET & BOUREE')

In the late Baroque, dance music such as the minuet and bouree', that had once been written for actual courtly dancing, now became stylized; in other words, meant for listening rather than dancing.

oratorio

Long semidramatic piece on a religious subject for soloists, chorus, and orchestra (160) Oratorio, the form which Handel made famous in the Messiah, is a dramatic form similar to opera, in which the story is told in singing, accompanied by orchestra. The main forms of both opera and oratorio are recitative and aria with the chorus playing a larger roll in oratorio. However, unlike opera, oratorio texts are drawn from biblical sources, are not performed in costume or acted out, and there is no stage scenery. In contrast, operas, are exactly like "sung" plays with acting, costumes, and scenery. When the old style of opera lost favor with the public, to avoid bankrupcy, Handel turned to a form of religious music called Oratorio. His oratorio, Messiah, is one of the greatest works in musical history, and is performed numerous times around the world every Christmas season. His Oratorio, the Messiah, was such a "hit" in England that at the first performance the King stood up in tribute during the Hallelujah Chorus. (He either stood in tribute to the composer, or because he was tired of sitting after one solid hour of singing)!

melody type

Melody: The aspect of music having to do with the succession of pitches; also applied ("a melody") to any particular succession of pitches (25)

mass

Much of the best music of the Renaissance was composed to be perfomed as part of the Roman Catholic church service, known as a "Mass." The Mass is a series of Latin prayers, Kyrie, Credo, Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei. that serve a different dramatic function in the ceremony. For centuries composers have set these prayers to music.

continuo

Musicians kept up the practice of writing the bass line with a series of numbers which represented the desired chords. This numbering system was called the "figured bass" and when performed by three or four instruments was described as the continuo part. Continuo (basso continuo): (1) A set of chords continuously underlying the melody in a piece of Baroque music; (2) the instrument(s) playing the continuo, usually cello plus harpsichord or organ (99, 129)

Ventadorn (Bernart De)

One of the few secular musicians whose names were recorded for later history, was Bernart De Ventadorn. Listen to the recording of his song "La Dousa Votz" or "I Heard the Sweet Voice." Read the complete lyrics in your chapter...these guys were real Romantics!

Messiah

Oratorio, the form which Handel made famous in the Messiah, is a dramatic form similar to opera, in which the story is told in singing, accompanied by orchestra. The main forms of both opera and oratorio are recitative and aria with the chorus playing a larger roll in oratorio. However, unlike opera, oratorio texts are drawn from biblical sources, are not performed in costume or acted out, and there is no stage scenery. In contrast, operas, are exactly like "sung" plays with acting, costumes, and scenery. His oratorio, Messiah, is one of the greatest works in musical history, and is performed numerous times around the world every Christmas season. When the old style of opera lost favor with the public, to avoid bankrupcy, Handel turned to a form of religious music called Oratorio. His oratorio, Messiah, is one of the greatest works in musical history, and is performed numerous times around the world every Christmas season. His Oratorio, the Messiah, was such a "hit" in England that at the first performance the King stood up in tribute during the Hallelujah Chorus. (He either stood in tribute to the composer, or because he was tired of sitting after one solid hour of singing)!

ornamentation

Ornament, ornamentation: Addition of fast notes and vocal effects (such as trills) to a melody, making it more florid and expressive. Ornamentation is typically improvised in the music of all cultures, and in Western music is often written out (123)

plainchant

PLAINCHANT or plainsong or Gregorian Chant: Unaccompanied, monophonic music, without fixed rhythm or meter, such as Gregorian chant (59) music of the Roman Catholic church called "Gregorian Chant" and popular music created by musicians such as the "Troubadours." Medieval life in Europe, was dominated by the church and was the only institution to promote the musical notation of music.Music known as "plainchant" was a fixture in religious traditions such as the Mass, and the Devine Offices. Plainchant, or Gregorian Chant, as it is now called was named after Pope Gregory who standardized the unaccompanied melodies used in the church service. Chants were not sung by the congregation, but were performed by the clergy or trained choir. These melodies were sung in Latin, and unaccompanied by musical instruments.

minnesingers

Poet-composers of the Middle Ages in Germany (64) The secular music (anything not religious in nature) of the Middle Ages was very different from Gregorian Chants. These love songs were composed by Troubadours as they were called in France, Trouveres' in the north countries, and MINNESINGERS in Germany. (Minne means love-singers). Songs about love are still the biggest sellers for modern-day record companies).

RECiTATIVE & aria (important forms of singing in opera)

Recitative: A half-singing, half-reciting style of presenting words in opera, cantata, oratorio, etc., following speech accents and speech rhythms closely. Secco recitative is accompanied only by continuo; accompanied recitative is accompanied by orchestra (98, 151, 152, 156) Aria: A vocal number for solo singer and orchestra, generally in an opera, cantata, or oratorio (102, 157) The main forms of both opera and oratorio are recitative and aria with the chorus playing a larger roll in oratorio. However, unlike opera, oratorio texts are drawn from biblical sources, are not performed in costume or acted out, and there is no stage scenery. In contrast, operas, are exactly like "sung" plays with acting, costumes, and scenery.

texture type in Baroque

The blend of the various sounds and melodic lines occurring simultaneously in a piece of music (29)

libretto

The complete book of words for an opera, oratorio, cantata, etc. (155) Handel was born and received musical training in Germany, in much the same manner as J.S. Bach. But while still in his 20's, Handel traveled to England and met with great success and public acclaim. He settled in Britain and became rich and famous composing the accepted style of opera, Opera Seria. (Opera based on libretto's taken from Ancient Greek and Roman stories). Julius Caesar is one of his most successful operas and is described in your textbook.

concerto grosso

The main early Baroque type of concerto, for a group of solo instruments and a small orchestra (133) Bach and Vivaldi excelled at an instrumental form called the Concerto Grosso. Although contemporary musicians would never name a piece of music "Grosso" because it is too close to our word "gross." But in the original Italian, a Concerto Grosso was simply a work for the small Baroque orchestra in which the melody would bounce back-and-forth between a small group and the full or "grosso" group. The procedure used for a Concerto Grosso and Solo Concerto, was for the orchestra to play the main melody and the small group or soloist to perform flashier or more elaborate material, with a return to the more stable opening theme. This form became known as Ritornello form. In Italian, the term Ritornello means "return," and the main theme returns often to give unity to the form. Concerto Grossi (plural for Grosso) were in three sections known as movements similar to the three acts of a play.

MADRIGAL

The main secular vocal genre of the Renaissance (p. 89) 2 new types of music evolved in this period, secular MADRIGALS, and stylized dances. Stylized Dances, were instrumental music named after the dance steps that inspired them such as galliard and jig but were meant for listening rather than dancing. MADRIGALS in Italy and later in England, were harmonized love songs and featured a technique know as "word painting." Word painting was a popular compositional effect in which the composer tried to set the "literal" meaning of the words to music. For example, if a word in the text mentioned heaven, the melody would climb higher and higher, the word hell, and the voices would descent to a low range. (Get it? Heaven up in the clouds and hell down underground).

passacaglia (baroque era)

The passacaglia, was a new invention of the Baroque era. In this form, a bass line or harmonic progression, repeats over-and-over while a series of variations are performed over the top. (This procedure is still common in popular music and jazz today even though contemporary musicians don't refer to it as a passacaglia).

POPE Marcellus Mass (Be sure to have a good definition and description in mind for Pope Marcellus Mass) (87-88)

The superstar of the Renaissance Era, is an Italian with a great musical sounding name, Giovanni Pierluigi Da Palestrina. Palestrina was the name of the village in Italy were he grew up and today he would simply be know as "Gio from Palestrina!" His musical setting of the mass for POPE Marcellus is a masterpiece and is still performed today. Pope Marcellus Mass WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE CONVINCED THE POPE THAT COMPOSERS OF COMPLICATED POLYPHONIC CHURCH MUSIC COULD STILL SET THE SACRED WORDS CLEARLY, WITH ENOUGH DECLAMATION SO THAT THE CONGREGATION COULD HEAR THEM. Italian Giovanni Pierluigi Da Palestrina musical setting of the mass for Pope Marcellus is a masterpiece & performed today.

Gregorian Chant or Plainchant

The type of chant used in the early Roman Catholic Church (59) Gregorian Chant is free-flowing without a feeling of a beat music of the Roman Catholic church called "GREGORIAN CHANT" and popular music created by musicians such as the "Troubadours." Medieval life in Europe, was dominated by the church and was the only institution to promote the musical notation of music.Music known as "plainchant" was a fixture in religious traditions such as the Mass, and the Devine Offices. Plainchant, or Gregorian Chant, as it is now called was named after Pope Gregory who standardized the unaccompanied melodies used in the church service. Chants were not sung by the congregation, but were performed by the clergy or trained choir. These melodies were sung in Latin, and unaccompanied by musical instruments.

Messiah Chorus

When the old style of opera lost favor with the public, to avoid bankrupcy, Handel turned to a form of religious music called Oratorio. His oratorio, Messiah, is one of the greatest works in musical history, and is performed numerous times around the world every Christmas season. His Oratorio, the Messiah, was such a "hit" in England that at the first performance the King stood up in tribute during the Hallelujah Chorus. (He either stood in tribute to the composer, or because he was tired of sitting after one solid hour of singing)!

KEMP'S JIG (92)

Will Kemp, elizabethan action, immortalized for having created comic roles in Shakespeares. Mr. Kemp specialized in poplar dance: Jig, thus "KEMP'S JIG" NOT SIMPLE: in phrase A, the cadence (a stopping place) comes in the fourth bar, whereas in phrase be, a cadence comes in the 5th though the motion does not stop. 2 new types of music evolved in this period, secular madrigals, and STYLIZED DANCE. Stylized Dances, were instrumental music named after the dance steps that inspired them such as galliard & JIG but were meant for listening rather than dancing.

WORD PAINTING

Word painting: Musical illustration of the meaning of a word or a short verbal phrase (85) Madrigals in Italy and later in England, were harmonized love songs and featured a technique know as "WORD PAINTING." WORD PAINTING was a popular compositional effect in which the composer tried to set the "literal" meaning of the words to music. For example, if a word in the text mentioned heaven, the melody would climb higher and higher, the word hell, and the voices would descent to a low range. (Get it? Heaven up in the clouds and hell down underground).

drone (instrumental drone):

a single two-note chord running continuously

BAROQUE ORCHESTRA SIZE (127)

core of orchestra: violin family. Louis XIV "The Twenty-Four Violins of the King": 6 violins, 12 violas & 6 cellos. (today be a strong orchestra: violins, violas, cellos and 1 or 2 bass viols.

Hildegard of Bingen (Abbess)

everything about the German Nun, Hildegard von Bingen. This multi-talented woman, was the first female musical and artistic genius recorded in history. She not only composed tuneful chants honoring the Virgin Mary and Saints, but was a talented artist whose paintings still survive. The single existing painting of Hildegard, portrays her receiving the "fire" of the Holy Spirit. She had mystical visions and the faithful from all over Europe flocked to visit her hoping for miracles. Art work: Medieval illumination of Hildegard. Listen to your recording of Hildegard's song, "Columba Aspexit" a plainchant-like melody in Latin honoring Saint Maximinus. Several of Hildegard's songs were recorded in a modern best-selling album titled "Hildegard von Bingen: Canticles of Ecstasy." In this album, her songs are arranged with pop-rock synth and drum machine backgrounds! Available at Amazon and from online distributers. Abbess Hildegard of Bingen, Germany, was one of the most remarkable figures of the Middle Ages. Most famous for her book relating her religious visions, she also wrote on natural history and medicine; she gained such renown that does and emperors sought her counsel.

toccatas (109)

free formed prices meant to capture the spirit of Girolamo Frescobaldi's own improvisation. Means "touched" in Italian, as in touching of the keys. Frescobaldi composed organ works in several distinct genres: toccatas, canzonas

Opera

most important form of vocal music in the Baroque was Opera, and this chapter introduces the greatest choral music composer of the Baroque era, George Frideric Handel.

figured bass line

was an intricate system of shorthand composers used to show the keyboard players the chords intended to fill in the harmony of the piece. The purpose of this system is very much like a "lead-sheet" used by contemporary pop musicians. Lead sheets give the melody, the lyrics, and guitar chord symbols over the measure. No written-out piano part is included). WAS one of the important techniques of the Baroque era is the . This was the lowest line of the music played by the cellos, organ, or other low-pitched instruments, and included numbers which indicated the chords to be played by the keyboard or guitars, Figured bass was essentially an ingenius form of musical "shorthand" which saver the composers many hours of labor.

Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 (Bach) p. 125

with longer pieces, Baroque composers tended to break them up into blocks of music that contrast w/one another in obvious ways, but are still homogeneous in themselves, Ex: Brandenburg concerto, where the orchestral & solo sections contrast clearly enough

fugue - fugue subject

A composition written systematically in imitative polyphony, usually with a single main theme, the fugue subject (108, 142)

variation form

A form in which a single melodic unit is repeated with harmonic, rhythmic, dynamic, or timbral changes (105, 137)

coloratura

An ornate style of singing, with many notes for each syllable of the text (155) two most important types of singing in both opera and oratorio, are aria and recitative. Arias, are highly dramatic songs in which the soloist dwells on thoughts and emotions, with lengthy elaborate runs and high notes. Arias, are the reason the greatest "coloratura" singers become rich and famous and the reason audience members pay one hundred dollars for the best seats in the house. Recitative, on the other hand, is a technique of declaiming lengthy dialogue with simple accompaniment. In recitative, there is little repetition of lines, and the singing follows the rhythm of the words

A CAPPAELLA

Choral music for voices alone, without instruments (81) & (87)