1.
Aria: operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio
2.
Basso Continuo: system of notation and performance practice used in the baroque period, in which an instrumental bass line is written out and one or more players of keyboard, lute, or similar instruments fill in the harmony with appropriate chords or improvised melodic lines
3.
Cantata: Vocal chamber music. Used in Lutheran services. Could be sacred or secular.
4.
Castrati: men are castrated, so they can maintain high voices for opera singing
5.
Da Capo Aria: An aria in ternary form used in opera and oratorio in the 17th and 18th centuries. The third section is not written out byt the instruction da capo is given instead. the repear of the A section was performed with the solo ornamented.
6.
Dido & Aeneas: Written by Henry Purcell. It's an English opera. Contains expressive ground basse text painting.
7.
George F. Handel: (23 Feb, 1685- 14 April, 1759) Wrote "The Messiah" in 1741. Wrote 40 operas in 30 years. Born into a musically indifferent family.
8.
Ground Basse: motif or phrase, repeated in one voice.
9.
Herr Jesu Christ: Church contata, written by Bach in 1724.
10.
Il Combatimento de Tancredi et Clorida: Madrigal about the man in battle who realizes he just fatally wounded a woman, whom he instantly falls in love with. Written by Monteverdi.
11.
L'Coronation di Poppea: Seneca is the voice of reason. Poppea is trying to manipulate Nero, so she can have power. Written by Monteverdi.
12.
L'Euridice: Written by Jacopo Peri, in 1600. Was the first known opera.
13.
L'Orfeo: Written by Monteverdi in 1607. Changes Modes from character to character, and there's very distinct text painting at the end of Tu Se Morta.
14.
Oratorio: Long piece. Usually sacred. Three types: Italian, German, & English.
15.
Recitative: vocal speech in opera, with small accompaniment
16.
Riternello: instrumental interlude in an opera
17.
The Messiah: Oratorio. Only Handel's 6th work in the genre. Written in 24 days. Wasn't originally well-recieved.
18.
Water Music: George F. Handel