Baroque music: characteristics, opera and genres

BAROQUE MUSIC

CHARACTERISTICS

SACRED VOCAL MUSIC

OPERA

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

BASSO CONTINUO

Melody: Ornamented, wide range

Texture: Basso Continuo or polyphonic texture

Timbre: Orchestra based on string instruments. Organ

Character, dynamics, tempo: Changes and contrast

Oratorio: Like an opera, with a narrator, but without acting. Stories from the Bible. Haendel

Passion: Like oratorio, but text bassed on Christ Passion. J.S. Bach

Cantatas: Similar to oratorio, but much shorter. Used on Church Services. J.S. Bach

Chorals: Songs for mixed choir and organ. Text from hymns. Used on Protestant Church Services

Invented in Italy. First opera --> Orfeo (Monteverdi, 1609)

Definition: Sing theatre with soloist, choir and orchestra

Italian language

Parts: Three acts

Plot: Mythological and historical tragedies

Places: First in palace, later in public theatres

Important voices: Sopranos and catrati (Farinelli)

Composers: Monteverdi, Scarlatti, Lully, Haende. Spain: Zarzuelas

ELEMENTS OF THE OPERA:

Overture (instrumental)

Reciative (develops the story, sing accompained with harpsichord)

Aria (express feelings)

Instrumental passages

Chorus (moral messages)

Esembles/orchestra based on string instruments

Viol family replaced by the violin family. Stradivarius

Organs become bigger and complex

Harpsi: Main instrument of the basso continuo

GENERES:

Suite: Series of contrasting tempo. Performed by chamber esembles and orchestras. Each dance has a binary structure, with two repeated.

Concerto: Music for orchestra (tutti) and solist/concertino (group of solist). Three movements using fast-slow-fast plan. Two types: solo concerto (soloist vs tutti), concerto grosso (soncertino vs tutti)