| Term | Definition |
|---|
| an outgrowth of renaissance theatrical traditions, musical experiments of the Florentine Camerata. Lavish spectacles and scenic displays that graced royal weddings and similar ceremonial occasions | opera |
| vocal style established in the baroque, with a solo singer and instrumental accompaniment | monody |
| a dramatic recitative style of baroque period in which melodies moved freely over a foundation of simple chord | stile rappresentativo |
| text, or script of an opera, prepared by a librettist | libretto |
| lyric song for solo voice with orchestral accompaniment, generally expressing intense emotion, found in opera cantata and oratorio | aria |
| lyric song in ternary, or ABA form, commonly found in operas, cantatas and oratorios | da capo aria |
| operatic recitative that features a sparse accompaniment and moves with great freedom | recitative secco |
| a recitative that is accompanied by orchestra | recitative accompagnato |
| fairly large group of singers who perform together, usually with several on each part. also a choral movement of a large scale work | chorus |
| a repeating melody, usually in the bass, throughouta vocal or instrumental composition | ground bass |
| baroque style developed by Monteverdi, which introduced novel effects such as rapid repeated notes as symbols of passion | stile concitato |
| short instrumental work, found in Baroque opera, to facilitate scene changes | sinfonia |
| strated by Christoph Willibald Gluck. This was when serious opera was librated from some of its outmoded conventions | operatic reform |
| tragic Italian opera | opera seria |
| Italian comic opera, sung throughout | opera buffa |
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