Affections
The basic mood of a piece
Terraced Dynamics
Alternation between loud and soft dynamics
Clavichord
keyboard instrument part of the continuo
Basso Continuo
Two instruments usually a keyboard and a cello. Played in accompaniment
Figured Bass
Showed bass notes of chord progression
Movement
Piece that sounds complete but is a part of a larger composition
Tutti
When the full orchestra is playing
Ritornello form
Alternating between tutti and solo
Subject
One main theme
Countersubject
The melodic idea that accompanies the sebject
Episode
Period of time for all pieces of Fugue to have subject
Stretto
Interrupting and episode
pedal Point
Drone
Inversion
When the interval of a fugue is reverses
Retrograde
Where a fugue is played from back to front
Augmentation
Making note values longer
Diminution
Making note values shorter
Prelude
Introduction to a fugue
Libretto
The text of an opera
Librettist
The writer of the text to an opera
Voice Categories of Opera
Aria
Song like singing an an opera, usually foretells of lost love or death. Much more melodic
Recitative
Less song like singing in an opera. It is close to speaking. Used for plot advancement.
Ensemble
Three or more vocalists working together in an opera.
Chorus
A group of singers performing together.
Prompter
The one who gives cues to the opera performers from a box off stage
Overture
Pure orchestral opening to an opera which sets the overall affection
Camerata
A fellowship where poets, nobles and composers met and paved the way for opera
Castrato
A process in which a male is castrated to maintain the ability to sing higher
Secco Recitative
Speech like melody accompanied by a basso continuo
Accompanied recitative
Speech like melody that is accompanied by a full orchestra
Da Capo Aria
Aria in ternary form. It repeats the beginning.
Da Capo
“from the beginning”
Ground Bass
Common in the Baroque period, the bass is repeated while the higher instruments continually change.
Basso Ostinato
The ground bass
Trill
A flutter that is used to alert the orchestra that it is almost time for them to play. It is an ornamentation.
Suite
Collection of dance music all written in the same key
French Overture
Common opening to baroque suites. often started like a fugue.
Chorale
Hymn tunes sung to a religious German text
Choral Prelude
Short organ composition used to remind the congregation of the melody
Mass (five parts)
Kyrie, Cloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei
Word Painting
Musical representation of specific poetic images
a cappella
Unaccompanied choral music
Motet (5 things)
Sacred // A Cappella // Polyphonic // Latin // Religious text
Mass (5 things)
Sacred // A Cappella // Polyphonic // Latin // Preset text
Madrigal
Secular // A Cappella // Polyphonic // Vernacular // Poems and Mythology
Oratorio
Sacred // Orchestra // Aria // Vernacular
Cantata
Sacred // orchestra // Aria // German
Opera
Secular // Orchestra // Aria or Recitative // italian // Libretto
Palestrina
Pope Marcellus Mass
Desprez
Ave Maria
Cadenza
improvised sounding solo passage – Bradenburg Concerto
Appoggiatura
Sustain a dissonant note before releasing to a consonant one
Claudio Monteverdi
Working mainly for the St. Mark’s Cathedral
Worked in seven cities
Dealt with word painting)
Orfeo
Henry Purcell
Was a choir Boy
English
Known for variety with the chorus
Dido and Aneas
Ostinato
Repeated musical idea
Antonio Vivaldi
St. Mark’s Connection
The Red Priest
La Primavera
Solo Concerto
JS Bach
Brandenburg Concerto (long cadenza)
Suite No.3
No. 140 Wachet Auf
Wrote for Lutheran churches
German
Organ Fugue
Georges Handel
Messiah
Impresario (one that puts everything together)
Arcangelo Corelli
Trio Sonata
Italian Violinist
Felix Mendelson
Revived Bach’s Music
Music for pedagogy
music for teaching
Ways to become a musician
Son of one
Apprenticed to one
Choir boy at church
When did Bach die?
1750
Thomas Weelkes
Britain/English
As Vesta Was descending (about the queen)
Pierre Caroubel
Passamezzo and Galliard
John Dowland
Flow My Tears
Giovanni Palestrina
Pope Marcellus Mass