Unit 3

Bach was recognized as the most eminent ____________ of his day.

organist

Baroque style flourished in music during the period ______.

1600-1750

Corelli's Trio Sonata is

I: Quadruple meter with dotted rhythms; II: A pervasive repeated-note motive

All of the following were baroque painters except ______.

Isaac Newton

Composer: Bach, Genre: Concerto grosso

Piece: Brandenburg

Bach: Cantata No. 140: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme - I, IV, & VII: Written Answers

Using the vocabulary you have learned so far in the course, describe the basic characteristics of these movements. The first movement opens with an orchestral ritornello, and, as the voices enter, the ritornello phrase transitions to shorter notes that are played underneath the imitative lower voices and the soprano voice that holds the melody. The fourth movement also opens in ritornello phrasing and reintroduces the first movement's characteristics while also pitting that melody against a new melody in the tenor voices. The seventh movement is the final movement heard in the cantata. It is homophonic and simplistic with the strings duplicating the voices melodies rather than playing another melody. This is also the only movement other than the first that all voices and instruments participate in. Which movement(s) did you listen to? Describe the use of the chorale tune in the three movements you heard. Movements one, four, and seven are outlined in this chapter. The use of the choral tune in the first movement is presented by phrases that are interrupted by brief interludes. The first movement depicts the watchmen of Jeruselem waking the wise virgins to announce that Chirst is coming. The fourth movement repeats the choral tune in a similar but faster rhythm. This movement depicts the people moving into the dining hall to partake in the Lord's supper. In the seventh movement, the choral becomes a continuous melody with strings duplicating the rhythms in homophonic texture. This movement praises God and thanks Him for allowing them into His kingdom. What are some characteristics you hear in these movements that would lead you to categorize them as sacred rather than secular? The cantata is sung in the same manner as a hymn where the melody is in the top line and the harmonies are filled in by lower voices and is based off of a traditional chorale in the same way that new church music is based off of older works. The orchestral ritornello opening the first music is also likely a characteristic of sacred music as it introduces the theme to spark the memory of the chorale that the piece is inspired by. Explain how Martin Luther's desire to incorporate congregational singing into the religious service is fulfilled in the cantatas by Bach. The cantatas are easy to sing and remember, and they fulfill the Lutheran ideas of direct communication between the believer and Christ as heard in the seventh movement when the text praises God. The text is also composed to fit into the time frame of a church service and is based of off a well known chorale, also aiding in including the congregation in the service because many members would recognize the tune.

The position of the composer during the baroque period was that of ______.

a high-class servant with few personal rights

Sections of an oratorio are usually connected together by means of ______.

a narrator's recitatives

Oratorio differs from opera in that it has no ______.

acting, scenery, or costumes

Bach achieves unity of mood in his compositions by using ______.

an insistent rhythmic drive

Handel's Messiah is an example of ______.

an oratorio

Most early baroque operas were based on Greek mythology and ______.

ancient history

When the subject of a fugue is presented in the dominant scale, it is called the ______.

answer

A song for solo voice with orchestral accompaniment is called a/an ______.

aria

The stage machinery of baroque opera _______.

bordered on the colossal

The ____________ is a short instrumental composition based on a hymn tune to remind the congregation of the hymn's melody.

choral prelude

The ____________ is a Lutheran congregational hymn tune.

chorale

The ____________ in an oratorio is especially important and serves either to comment on or to participate in the drama.

chorus

In the baroque period, the ordinary citizen's opportunities for hearing music usually came from the ______.

church

The principal means of musical expression in the Lutheran service was the ______.

church cantata

A popular keyboard instrument in which sound was produced by means of brass blades striking the strings was the ______.

clavichord

The ____________ is the person who beats time, indicates expression, cues in musicians, and controls the balance among instruments and voices.

conductor

A(n) ____________ is a musical number for two solo voices with orchestral accompaniment.

duet

The concerto grosso most often has three movements whose tempo markings are ______.

fast, slow, fast

Of Bach's twenty children, ____________ went on to become well-known composers.

four

A type of polyphonic composition based on one main theme is a ______.

fugue

The various dances of the baroque suite are usually ______.

in AABB form

The main theme of a fugue is called the ______.

subject

A Vivaldi concerto usually has ____________ movements.

three

In contrast to fugues, baroque suites tended to have ____________ because they were based on dance steps.

balanced and symmetrical phrases

A ____________ is a singer with a low range who usually takes comic roles.

basso buffo

Monteverdi's vocal music ordinarily was supported by a ____________ and other instruments.

basso continuo

The most characteristic feature of baroque music is its use of ______.

basso continuo

A sung piece, or choral work with or without vocal soloists, usually with orchestral accompaniment, is the ______.

cantata

Baroque painters exploited their materials to expand the potential of ____________ to create totally structured worlds.

color, ornament and detail, depth All answers are correct

To achieve intensity of expression, Monteverdi used ____________ with unprecedented freedom and daring.

dissonances

Baroque melodies often are ______.

elaborate and ornamental

A(n) ____________ is an operatic number involving three or more leading singers.

ensemble

Transitional sections of a fugue that offer either new material or fragments of the subject or countersubject are called ______.

episodes

The early and late baroque periods differed in that composers in the late baroque ______.

favored polyphonic texture

A bass part together with numbers that specify the chords to be played above it is called ______.

figured bass

The solo instruments in Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 are the ____________, violin, and harpsichord.

flute

Frederick the Great, king of Prussia, was a ______.

flutist general composer All answers are correct

Characteristic of baroque trio sonatas, the second movement of Corelli's Trio Sonata in A Minor, Op. 3, No. 10, is ______.

fuguelike

The Lutheran chorale tunes ______.

had been adapted from Catholic hymns were composed in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries had been adapted from folk songs All answers are correct.

The main keyboard instruments of the baroque period were the organ and the ______.

harpsichord

The early baroque was characterized by ______.

homophonic texture

Corelli's Trio Sonata in A Minor, Op. 3, No. 10, consists of four short movements, all in the same ______.

key

Instrumental music became as important as vocal music for the first time in the ____________ period.

late baroque

Although all the movements of a baroque suite are in the same key, they differ in ______.

meter national origin tempo All answers are correct.

The word baroque has at various times meant all of the following:elaborately ornamented, flamboyant, bizarre, naturalistic except ______.

naturalistic

A baroque musical composition usually expresses ____________within the same movement.

one basic mood

An ____________ is a play, set to music, sung to orchestral accompaniment, with scenery, costumes, and action.

opera

Bach created masterpieces in every baroque form except ______.

opera

In their use of aria, duet, and recitative, Bach's cantatas closely resembled the ____________ of the time.

operas

A large-scale composition for chorus, vocal soloists, and orchestra, usually set to a narrative biblical text, is called a(n) ______.

oratorio

In Italy, music schools were often connected with ______.

orphanages

An ____________ is an orchestral composition performed before the curtain rises on a dramatic work.

overture

Congregational singing of chorales was an important way for people to ______.

participate directly in the service

Monteverdi, an early baroque composer, strove to create music that was ______.

passionate and dramatic

A ____________ is a single tone, usually in the bass, that is held while the other voices produce a series of changing harmonies against it.

pedal point

Very often an independent fugue is introduced by a short piece called a(n) _______.

prelude

The music director of a baroque court was usually not responsible for ______.

publicity in reaching an audience

Castrati ______.

received the highest fees of any musicians combined the lung power of a man with the vocal range of a woman were male singers who had been castrated before puberty All answers are correct.

The compelling drive and energy in baroque music are usually provided by ______.

repeated rhythmic patterns

Presenting the subject of a fugue from right to left, or beginning with the last and proceeding backward to the first note, is called ______.

retrograde

The first and last movements of the concerto grosso are often in ____________ form.

ritornello

A sonata intended to be played in church, and therefore dignified and suitable for sacred performance, was called a ______.

sonata da chiesa

The first oratorios were based on ______.

stories from the Bible

Composers in the middle baroque phase favored writing compositions for instruments of the ____________ family.

string

The orchestra evolved during the baroque period into a performing group based on instruments of the ____________ family.

string

Henry Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas was originally written to be performed by ______.

students at a girls' boarding school

Sets of dance-inspired instrumental movements are called ______.

suites

In the baroque era, dynamics consisted mainly of sudden alterations between loud and soft called ______.

terraced dynamics

Handel's oratorios are usually based on ______.

the Old Testament

The members of the Camerata wanted the vocal line of their music to follow ______.

the rhythms and pitch fluctuations of speech

Melodic sequence refers to ______.

the successive repetition of a musical idea at higher or lower pitches

To evoke angry or warlike feelings in some of his texts, Monteverdi introduced new orchestral effects, including pizzicato and ______.

tremolo

A musical ornament consisting of the rapid alternation of two tones that are a whole or half step apart is a ______.

trill

The large group of players in a concerto grosso is known as the ______.

tutti

Vivaldi was famous and influential as a virtuoso ______.

violinist

During the baroque period, _________ were not allowed to be employed as music directors.

women

Which of the following statements is not true? A concerto grosso normally involves two to four soloists, and anywhere from eight to twenty or more musicians for the tutti. A concerto grosso presents a contrast of texture between the tutti and the soloists, who assert their individuality and appeal for attention through brilliant and fanciful melodic lines. A concerto grosso normally involves a large group of soloists accompanied by an equal number of supporting players. The first and last movements of concerti grossi are often in ritornello form, a form that features the alternation between tutti and solo sections.

A concerto grosso normally involves a large group of soloists accompanied by an equal number of supporting players.

Modern historians use the term baroque to indicate what?

A particular style in the arts, involving action and movement

To what does the word movement in music normally refer?

A piece that sounds fairly complete and independent but is part of a larger composition

What is one characteristic often found in baroque melodies?

A short opening phrase followed by a longer phrase with an unbroken flow of rapid notes

What is a major difference between a cantata and an oratorio?

An oratorio is not intended for religious services.

Which of the following statements is not true? A large court during the baroque might employ more than eighty performers, including the finest opera singers of the day. Audiences in the baroque period were most anxious to hear old familiar favorites, and did not care for new music. In Italy, music schools were often connected with orphanages. Church musicians in the baroque period earned lower pay and had less status than court musicians.

Audiences in the baroque period were most anxious to hear old familiar favorites, and did not care for new music

Bach's personal musical style was drawn from ______.

Italian concertos French dance pieces German church music All answers are correct.

Oratorios first appeared in ______.

Italy

The sonata originated in ______.

Italy

George Frideric Handel was born in 1685, the same year as ______.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Some of Vivaldi's instrumental concertos were arranged by ______.

Johann Sebastian Bach

The two giants of baroque composition were George Frideric Handel and ______.

Johann Sebastian Bach

The longest period of Johann Sebastian Bach's professional life was spent as director of music at St. Thomas's Church in ______.

Leipzig

Which of the following about Vivaldi's La Primavera (Spring) from The Four Seasons is true?

The piece is an example of program music.

Composer: Bach, Genre: Suite

Piece: Suite in D something

Composer: Monteverdi, Genre: Opera

Piece: Tu se morte

Composer: Bach, Genre: Cantata

Piece: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, I

All of the following were major baroque composers except ______. Pierluigi da Palestrina Claudio Monteverdi Antonio Vivaldi Arcangelo Corelli

Pierluigi da Palestrina

Purcell: Dido and Aeneas, Dido's Lament

-Which of the following is NOT a characteristic heard in the recitative section? Ornamented melody -The recitative is an example of secco recitative, supported by the basso continuo. -A chromatically descending ground bass, heard during the aria, was often used in the baroque period to show sadness -Which of the following phrases best describes the tempo of the aria? Slow, with a steady beat

Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, I

-Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the opening ritornello? Flute and violin imitation -In this movement, the tempo is consistent throughout -The texture of this movement alternates between homophonic and polyphonic. -The last solo section contains a long harpsichord solo. Which musical characteristic do you NOT hear in this solo? Quiet, meditative chords

Monteverdi: Tu se' morta, from Orfeo

-Which of the following phrases best describes the vocal delivery of the text? Declamatory, as in passioned speech -Which phrase best describes the beat of this excerpt? Rhythmically free with little emphasis placed on the beat -Which phrase best describes the vocal melody? Wide pitch range using specific pitches to emphasize specific words

By about ____________, major or minor scales were the tonal basis of most compositions.

1690

The late baroque period spanned the years ______.

1690-1750

Which of the following statements is not true? Monteverdi's Orfeo, composed in 1607, is considered to be the earliest operatic masterpiece. All twelve of Monteverdi's operas are regularly performed in Europe and America. Monteverdi creates variety in Orfeo by using many kinds of music, combining recitatives, arias, duets, choruses, and instrumental interludes into one dramatic whole. Monteverdi's works form a musical bridge between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and greatly influenced composers of the time.

All twelve of Monteverdi's operas are regularly performed in Europe and America.

____________ is a musical idea repeated over and over in the bass while melodies above it constantly change.

Basso ostinato

Handel spent the major portion of his life in ______.

England

The earliest opera that has been preserved is Jacopo Peri's ______.

Euridice

In the myth of Orpheus, Orpheus goes to Hades in the hope of bringing ____________ back to life.

Eurydice

Handel: Messiah - Ev'ry Valley, For unto Us a Child Is Born, & Hallelujah

Ev'ry Valley Shall be Exalted: -This aria makes use of word painting. -Does the accompaniment change during the vocal cadence at the end of the aria? Yes, it plays of a series of low, sustained chords. For unto Us a Child Is Born: -The text that begins "and the government. . ." is set apart by a change in rhythm. -What do the high strings play when the words "Wonderful" and "Counsellor" are sung? Fast-moving repetitive patterns Hallelujah Chorus: -What style of choral singing is included in the Hallelujah Chorus? Both chordal and imitative -When the text "The kingdom of this world. . ." is sung, what does the orchestra do? For the most part, they double the voice parts. -The final statement of the Hallelujah Chorus is emphasized by a pause right before it.

Corelli: Trio Sonata in A Minor, Op. 3, No. 10 - I & II

First Movement: Vivace -The melody of this movement is repeated. Which of the following best describes the melody the second time you hear it? It is an exact repetition. -What is the meter of the first movement? Quadruple Second Movement: Allegro -Which of the following best describes the basso continuo in this movement? It engages in melodic imitation with the violin parts. -Which statement best describes the melodic idea of this movement? It contains quick-moving, repeated note patterns that are imitated.

Critical Listening: Wachet auf Cantata, IV by Bach

Here, the opening ritornello uses two-note groupings. What is the relationship between the two paired notes? -The first note is always stronger than the second note. Listen closely to the text being sung. What language is it? -German What types of voices do you hear in this passage? -A men's chorus

Bach: Little Fugue in G Minor

How many instruments perform this fugue? One -The subject of this fugue builds momentum due to a change from slower to quicker rhythms. -The fifth subject entrance begins in the tenor and finishes in the soprano. Which of the following statements best describes what the bass line does at this point? It descends to a low sustained pedal tone. -In the countersubject, you can hear a specific musical technique, referred to as a trill. -Does this fugue end on a major or a minor chord? Major

Critical Listening: Hallelujah by Handel

How many statements of "Hallelujah" do you hear in this passage? -A brief introduction followed by 10 statements of "Hallelujah" What is the most notable or striking contrast in this section of the piece? -Dynamic contrast In this section, which words are set in monophonic texture? -"King of kings" What happens to the music just before the conclusion? -It suddenly stops and begins again.

Critical Listening: Brandenburg Concerto, I by Bach

How would you describe the beat and tempo of the beginning of this piece? -The beat is well defined and the tempo is moderately fast. What two instruments are predominately paired in this concertino section? -Violin and flute What role does the harpsichord play in this section? -It provided accompaniment and adds to the texture.

Which of the following statements is not true? Voice categories in opera are divided more finely than in other musical genres. Operas may contain spoken dialogue, but most are sung entirely. Opera soloists must create a wide variety of characters, and so need acting skills as well as vocal artistry. In opera, the terms ensemble and chorus are synonymous.

In opera, the terms ensemble and chorus are synonymous.

Why is Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 unusual?

It gives a solo role to the harpsichord.

Composer: Bach , Genre: Fugue

Piece: Little Fugue

Composer: Handel, Genre: Oratorio

Piece: Messiah

Bach: Cantata No. 140: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme - I, IV, & VII

Movement I: -How many different rhythmic/melodic patterns does the opening ritornello have? Three -When the voices enter, which part is moving faster? Violins -What voice part sings the chorale tune in this movement? Soprano -How is the chorale tune set apart from the orchestra and the other voice parts? It is at a higher pitch level and has longer note values. -The voice parts that do not sing the chorale tune sing rapid, imitative passages. Movement IV: -In the opening ritornello, what do you hear? Violins and violas in unison with basso continuo -Which phrase best describes the bass line of this movement? A walking pattern that moves mostly on the beat -Which statement best describes the texture of this movement? Both statements are correct. -Movement VII: Which instrument(s) duplicate the chorale tune? Violins -The texture of this movement is homophonic.

Vivaldi: La Primavera, Op. 8, No. 1 - I, II, & III

Movement I: Allegro -Which of the following is NOT heard in the opening ritornello? Trills played by the upper strings -Which of the following best describes the rhythm of the opening ritornello? Lively with consistent repeating patterns -Which statement best describes the solo sections of this movement? Each solo section consists of new melodic material that reflects the programmatic elements of the text. Movement II: Largo -In this movement, the violas play the part of the "barking dog." Which description does NOT describe what you hear? The pattern maintains the same pitch throughout the movement. -What is the meter of this movement? Triple -In this movement, the melody played by the solo violin moves in slower rhythm patterns than the accompanying parts. Movement III: Danza pastorale -Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the opening ritornello? Only the solo violin and basso continuo are playing. -The melody of the solo violin passages contain melodic sequences.

What are embellishments?

Ornamental tones not printed in the music that seventeenth- and eighteenth-century performers were expected to add to the melody.

Composer: Purcell, Genre: Opera

Piece: Dido's Lament, Tempo: Adagio

Composer: Vivaldi, Genre: Concerto

Piece: La Primavera

____________ refers to a vocal line that imitates the rhythms and pitch fluctuations of speech.

Recitative

Which of the following statements about baroque suites is not true? Baroque suites often begin with a French overture. The baroque suite is a musical form exclusive to the orchestra. A baroque suite is made up of different movements that are all written in the same key but differ in tempo, meter, and character. The various dances of the baroque suite are usually in AABB form

The baroque suite is a musical form exclusive to the orchestra.

Hallelujah Texture

The excerpt moves from monophonic to polyphonic to homophonic.

Which of the following statements is not true? Baroque art is a complex mixture of rationalism, sensuality, materialism, and spirituality. The late baroque period was one of the most revolutionary periods in music history. Early baroque composers favored homophonic texture over the polyphonic texture typical of Renaissance music. Regardless of form, baroque music often features contrasts between elements of sound.

The late baroque period was one of the most revolutionary periods in music history.

Which of the following statements is not true? Most early baroque operas were based on Greek mythology and ancient history. The members of the Florentine Camerata based their theories on actual dramatic music that had come down to them from the Greeks. The members of the Florentine Camerata wanted to create a new vocal style modeled on the music of ancient Greek tragedy. Polyphony was rejected by the members of the Florentine Camerata because different words sounding simultaneously would obscure the text.

The members of the Florentine Camerata based their theories on actual dramatic music that had come down to them from the Greeks.

To what does terraced dynamics refer?

The sudden alternation from one dynamic level to another

Which of the following statements is not true? The trio sonata usually involved three performers, two on high instruments and one on a bass line. The sonata da chiesa had a dignified character and was suitable for sacred performance. Sonatas were played in palaces, in homes, and even before, during, and after church services. The sonata originated in Italy but spread to Germany, England, and France during the seventeenth century.

The trio sonata usually involved three performers, two on high instruments and one on a bass line.

Critical Listening: La Primavera, I by Vivaldi

This opening ritornello section contains two phrases, each repeated. What do the performers do on the repeated phrases to create contrast? -Play softer Which of the natural images from the sonnet do you think the sound of the solo violin is illustrating in this section? -Singing birds After another repeat of the ritornello comes a passage that depicts a thunderstorm. Is this musical depiction created primarily by the orchestra, or by the solo violin? -Orchestra

Corelli: Trio Sonata in A Minor, Op. 3, No. 10 - I & II:Written Answers

Using the vocabulary you have learned so far in the course, describe the basic characteristics of these movements. Both movements composed for two violins and basso continuo are set in quadruple meter and engage in imitation. The tempos of movement one and two are respectively vivace and allegro. Each movement is composed in the same key, but differ in mood and tempo. How many musical lines do you hear in these movements? What is the relationship between the parts played by the organ and the cello? There are two violins and basso continuo played by both organ and cello, so there are four musical lines performing the trio sonata. The cello and organ are both subordinate to the violins and play similar, if not exact, melodies to imitate and provide accompaniment for the violin. What are the tempo schemes of these two movements? Although both movements have a fast tempo, movement one has a lively rhythm while movement two is vigorous in manner. The second movement is also fuguelike with repeated note rhythms that create the vigorous sense of movement in the piece. Both the first and the second movements of this work end in an unusual way, with an incomplete cadence on the dominant. In your opinion, what effect did the composer intend to create? In my opinion, the composer uses the incomplete cadences as a means to build tension in anticipation for the next section or movement of the piece. I believe the incomplete cadences are there to not only show the piece is continuing, but to add an element of surprise for the audience who is expecting the cadence to close, but will instead be greeted by the opening statement of a new phrase.

Vivaldi: La Primavera, Op. 8, No. 1 - I, II, & III: Written Answers

Using the vocabulary you have learned so far in the course, describe the basic characteristics of these movements. The concerto contains three movements in the common fast, slow, fast order of baroque concertos with both the first and last movements composed in ritornello form and alternate between tutti and solo sections. The second movement is much slower than the first and last which creates a serene, pastoral scene. The violinist adds ornamentation to the melody, a common practice in baroque times while the violas play a short-long repeated note figure imitating a barking dog. The first and last movements in particular contain minor passages to add more variety to the melody. Knowing that ritornello refers to a recurring musical idea, describe Vivaldi's use of ritornello in La Primavera. Be specific. Vivaldi's opening ritornello has two phrases that are played loud and then repeated softly the second time. The solo passages in the first movement also contain ideas that are centered are the original ritornello in the opening verse. The second movement, although not in ritornello form, has a repeating melody throughout. The third movement also presents similar ideas as the first movement where the beginning ritornello is then partially repeated in a minor key after the first solo passage. The third tutti passage in this movement is played in major and varied in minor. In his music, Vivaldi tried to capture the chirping of birds as well as the sounds of a spring storm. What compositional devices did Vivaldi use to depict these aspects of spring? Does La Primavera evoke thoughts of spring for you? Explain why or why not. Vivaldi uses high trill, repeated note patterns, upward rushing scales, and low string tremolos to depict the aspects of spring. La Primavera does evoke thoughts of spring for me because the trills and repeated note patterns do sound like birds whistling, and the low string tremolos very strongly depict thunder. The aspects when brought together immerse the audience in the rhythm of spring as the natural elements of the Earth continuously change to adapt to the new season. How does the middle movement differ from the first and third movements? The middle movement is not set in ritornello form, has a slower tempo, has unchanging rhythm, texture, and dynamic contrast as is it very soft and slow throughout the entire section.

Handel: Messiah - Ev'ry Valley, For unto Us a Child Is Born, & Hallelujah: Written Answers

Using the vocabulary you have learned so far in the course, describe the basic characteristics of these pieces. Handel's Messiah is an oratorio that includes many changes in texture, an aria in the first outline, ritornellos, and repeated melodies. The oratorio also uses several instances of word painting, a defining characteristic of this piece. How do For unto Us a Child Is Born and Ev'ry Valley differ? How does the purpose of each (either to develop the plot or evoke a mood) affect how Handel chose to portray it musically? For unto Us a Child is Born is sung by both a female and male voice in duet style and relies on changing rhythms to depict the action of the text while Ev'ry Valley is sung by a male voice and uses word painting to portray words such as "mountain" and "crooked". Both movements are joyous, but the rhythmic variations add a more jubilant mood to the text while the word painting merely adds excitement. The lone male voice acts as a messenger that Christ will soon be born in Ev'ry Valley and the duet style with both female and male voices act as a crowd or group of people celebrating the birth of Christ. Explain how Handel's treatment of text and musical ideas aids listeners in their understanding of the text and adds impact to that understanding in For unto Us a Child is Born and the Hallelujah Chorus. (Hint: Include a discussion of texture in your answer.) In For unto Us a Child is Born, the texture is light but has very distinct polyphonic phrases similar to Hallelujah which is composed to include monophonic, homophonic, and polyphonic texture. The rhythms at monophonic and homophonic sections of the texts are simplistic and have many repeated note melodies that build tension for the polyphonic textures which indicate joyousness for the Lord and Son. As the ideas continue to build upon one another, the texture aids the audience in recognizing the connection between the text and the musical ideas.

Bach: Little Fugue in G Minor: Written Answers

Using the vocabulary you have learned so far in the course, describe the basic characteristics of this fugue. This fugue composed for four voices uses the first countersubject to introduce new materials and a melodic idea, trills in the soprano voice, and a very powerful bass presence within the piece. The fugue concludes on a major key, a common practice in the baroque era. The entire fugue is based on a single theme, yet it contains a lot of variety. What are some techniques that Bach uses to create this effect? To add contrast, a major key is presented two times within the minor key. The theme is also varied in the countersubject and a trill in the higher voice is present at times. Episodes vary in length and alternate between descending and ascending phrases to add variety as well.

Purcell: Dido and Aeneas, Dido's Lament: Written Answers:

Using the vocabulary you have learned so far in the course, describe the basic characteristics of this piece. The opening recitative is accompanied by a ground bass that sets the sorrowful mood. The piece continues to elaborate on the tragic events leading to Dido's suicide while the basso continuo chromatically descends to add to the mood of the performance. The performance climaxes at "Remember me!" and is followed by the descending violin passage to conclude the piece and seal Dido's fate. When you listened, did the repetition of the chromatic, descending ground bass stick out, or did Purcell weave it into the musical fabric in such a way as to not be noticed? Explain your answer. Purcell weaved the descending ground bass into the musical fabric to where it is vaguely noticeable, but it does not take away to spotlight of the voice. The bass flows with the voice without overpowering it to add depth to the mood to enhance the emotional distress of the text. The bass sustains many long notes, but breaks the pattern to introduce new ideas or feelings in the text such as at "Remember me!" where the violin crescendos while the lute plays softer, shorter melodic runs underneath the voice and violin. What stylistic traits of this piece characterize it as baroque? Using basso continuo and ground bass in chromatically descending patterns to show grief were common in the baroque era. The piece also presents an aria belonging to the baroque time period as well. As you listened, were you able to empathize with Dido's tragic fate? What compositional devices did Purcell use that played a role in your ability to do this? The descending patterns in the ground bass provoke an emotional connection to Dido as she bids farewell prior to her suicide. As Dido proclaims her sorrows, the highest tones on "Remember me!" are repeated to create a chilling, eerie feeling to allow the listener to sympathize with Dido.

Monteverdi: Tu se' morta, from Orfeo: Written Answers

Using the vocabulary you have learned so far in the course, describe the basic formal characteristics of this piece. This recitative uses instances of word painting and is accompanied by basso continuo on an organ and a bass lute. The piece is homophonic in texture, has no clear meter, and has irregular phrase lengths. Monteverdi skillfully uses word painting when describing the words abissi (abysses), stelle (stars), morte (death), terra (earth), and sole (sun). What musical techniques does he use to accomplish this? Monteverdi describes words such as stelle and sole through climatic, high tones while words such as abissi and morte are portrayed by using somber, low tones. Explain how Monteverdi's treatment of the melodic line reflects the new ideas and techniques of the baroque style. The homophonic texture in this piece is relevant to the early baroque era in which the piece was composed. Also, the melodic line uses word painting and is accompanied by basso continuo, two common features of baroque music. Word painting and a free rhythmic pattern in this recitative allows for the voice to express the somber and anguish of Orpheus after he learns of Eurydice's death. Based on your understanding of the text, explain how successfully (or unsuccessfully) the performer musically conveys the emotional content of this piece. The piece starts on a low tone that immediately leads the listener to believe the text holds a heavier connotation. The performer continues to build tension through the opening passage with a steady crescendo to the first climax after "rimango". The piece continues in a similar manner, using low tones on negatively connoted words and high tones for positive words to vividly portray the emotion that is felt in the piece.

Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, I: Written Answers

Using the vocabulary you have learned so far in the course, describe the basic formal characteristics of this piece. This piece, composed in duple meter and a d-major key, is a concerto grosso that presents terraced dynamics, changes in key, and changes in tone color when alternating between the tutti and solo passages. The solos offer variations of the tutti theme in short melodic passages along with scale and chord fragments. This work presents a continuous sense of movement. What musical elements contribute to this feeling of motion? The continuous flow of notes in the opening ritornello, the alternation between brief, loud tutti passages and longer, softer solo passages, and suspenseful solo sections building tension are all elements that contribute to the feeling of motion. Compare the role of the harpsichord in this work to that of a harpsichord performing the typical role of basso continuo in a baroque piece. Although the harpsichord's typical role in a baroque piece is an accompaniment, the harpsichord is performed as a solo piece with an extensive solo prior to the closing tutti for the first time in Bach's Brandenburg Concerto. How do the tutti sections contrast with the solo sections in this concerto? The tutti sections of this concerto are brief and loud while the solo sections are longer and softer. The tutti passages may be describes as vigorous where the solo passages may be more personal and polite.

Vivaldi spent most of his life working at an institution for orphaned and illegitimate girls in ______.

Venice

A two-part collection of preludes and fugues, one in each major and minor key and basic to the repertoire of keyboard players today, is Bach's ______.

Well-Tempered Clavier

The respect given Henry Purcell by his fellow Englishmen is evidenced by his burial in ______.

Westminster Abbey

Critical Listening: "Tu se morta" from Orfeo by Monteverdi

What is the texture of the music here in the beginning of the piece? -The texture is homophonic. What is the tempo of the music in this passage? -Free recitative Listen for the high pitch on the word "sole" (sun). What illustrative technique is this an example of? -Word painting

Which of the following statements is not true? Lutheran chorales were tunes that had often been adapted from folk songs and Catholic hymns. In a sense, the cantata was a sermon in music that reinforced the minister's sermon. When chorale melodies were harmonized for church choirs, the tune was assigned to the tenors. The cantata of Bach's day might last 25 minutes and contain several different movements, including choruses, recitatives, arias, and duets.

When chorale melodies were harmonized for church choirs, the tune was assigned to the tenors.