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Music of the Western Tradition Test 2

Terms in this set (36)

Cantata
A composition in several movements for solo voices, instruments and perhaps a chorus. Comes from a madrigal. Can be sacred or secular. Cantare: to sing. Bach wrote many of these.
Fugue
Composition written systematically in imitative polyphony. Usually with a single theme (subject). Counterpoint. Subject, followed by answer. Then countersubject.
Counterpoint
A melodic line that forms polyphony when played along with other lines. Polyphonic texture. Is more general than a fugue. More specific than polyphony. Combining of melodies. Perfected by Bach. Classical composers used this in the context of a bigger piece.
Suite
A set of dances. Baroque.
Concerto
A large composition for orchestra and solo instrument. Concerto Grosso-Baroque form with two bodies of instruments. Later changed to just one.
Sonata
Solo instrument. Solo instrument usually has piano accompaniment. Classical.
Sonata Form
A(exposition)B(development)A(recapitulation).
Theme 1 Theme 2 Theme 1 Theme 2
I V I I
Rondo Form
1 main theme or tune with alternate themes or sections (ABACA, ABACABA, etc.)
Variation Form
Form in which a single melodic unit is repeated with harmonic, rhythmic, dynamic or timbral changes.
Oratorio
Long semi-dramatic piece on a religious subject for soloists, chorus and orchestra. A story told through music. Like the Messiah.
Symphony
Large orchestral piece in several movements. Perfected in the Classical era by Haydn. Began to be developed in the Baroque era.
Passion
A long, oratorio-like composition telling the story of Jesus' last days as according to NT Gospels
Cadenza
An improvised passage for the soloist in a concerto or sometimes in other works
Doctrine of Affections
Inspired by the Greek ideas that music affects people. The idea that a piece should convey one emotion. Baroque Era.
Aria
A vocal number for solo singers and orchestra in an opera, cantata or oratorio that conveys a mood. Kind of like a sung soliloquy.
Recitative
Half-singing, half-talking style of dialogue in opera.
Sinfonia
Similar to a French Overture. Used in Italian Operas.
Conservatory
Orphanages that trained kids in music in Italy. Became music schools. Vivaldi was part of one. He taught violin.
Toccata
Baroque. A written out composition in improv style, generally for an organ or harpsichord. Instrumental. Tocarre-to touch. Often for piano.
Basso Continuo
Baroque. Set of chords underlying the melody (usually a harpsichord or organ.) The bottom of the piece.
Homophony
A musical texture that involves only one melody of real interest, combined with chords or other subsidiary sounds.
Singspiel
Spoken dialogue in a German Opera.
Opera Seria
Serious heroic opera of the Baroque period in Italy. More for the aristocracy.
Opera Buffa
Italian comic opera. Evolved into Classical. Middle class everday subject matter.
Frescobaldi
Foremost organ virtuoso of the 16th century. Excellent at improv. Studied by Bach.
Buxtehude
German composer and organist. Bach walked 250 miles to see him.
Monteverdi
Called "the last great madrigalist and the first great opera composer."
Work was called "radical"
Orfeo was the first masterpiece of opera
Helped inaugurate public opera
Peri
Italian composer and singer of the transitional period between the Renaissance and Baroque styles. Is often called the inventor of opera. Wrote the first opera in florence.
Rameau
French Baroque composer. Replaced Lully as the prominent French composer. Wrote a treatise on Modern Tonality.
Da Ponte
Italian. Collaborated with Mozart on Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Cosi Fan Tutte.
Vivaldi
Uses melody and harmony, which causes him to sound more modern.
2nd most-listened-to Baroque composer after Bach. Composed 49 operas, and in some ways wrote the original classical symphonies (use similar structure)
Wrote specific instructions for how an instrument should sound, ie this should sound like a dog barking
PROGRAM MUSIC: about something specific vs ABSOLUTE MUSIC: not "about" anything (Mozart, Beethoven)
4 concertos: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter—each of these divided into three parts (fast, slow, fast)
Handel
German. Lived in England. Studied Italian opera style; influenced by French composer Lully;
Gavotte, minuette, sarabonde, Gigue, Sicilienne, etc
Judas Maccabeus--oratorio
Most famous: Messiah-NOT a narrative, unlike his other stuff
Took him 24 days to compose it
Recit: text; aria: emotion; chorus; duet
JS Bach
German. Perfected counterpoint. Lutheran-brought sense of the individual. Composed for churches. In his lifetime, he was considered a good organist, but old-fashioned. Most considered his music to be too intellectual to be pleasing to the ear. For awhile, his music was lost/forgotten about.
Haydn
Baroque. Music showed a sense of humor. Perfected the symphony.
Mozart
Vocal genius. Wrote many important operas. Perfected the concerto. Wrote symphonies and string quartets. Cantabile-to play as if you are singing. Italian influence even though he was austrian, Wrote about 50 symphonies. His popularity went up and down, His music was heavy and complicated while people wanted light and fluffy. The culture and politics of Vienna changed his music.
Beethoven
Life broken up into three periods because his style changed so much. Early Period:Influenced by Haydn in the early years. Had the reputation of a good composer at 30. Middle Period (Heroic Period): started going deaf. Third Period: Deafness is prominent, Unrelentless will power. Dignity of man. Human anger and righteous anger. Influenced whole century.
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