Who are Pope Gregory the Great and Benedict of Nursia? What did they accomplish? (Unit 8)
- Pope Gregory: assembled and standardized all the basic chants required for church services of his time
- Benedict of Nursia: founder of the Benedictine Order, first European Monastic Order,
What is the Gregorian Chant?
the type of chant used in the early Roman Catholic Church
Name the 4 medieval modes:
- D (dorian)
- E (lydian)
- F (phrygian)
- G (mixolydian)
Explain the term Organum.
the earliest genre of medieval polyphonic music
Name 2 medieval composers and one of their works.
- Perotin: Organum “Alleluia. Diffusa est gratia”
- Hildegard of Bingen: Columba aspexit
Who is Perotin and what id he accomplish?
started creating organa
What is the Notre-Dame Period?
- The Notre-Dame school or the Notre-Dame school of polyphony refers to the group of composers working at or near the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris
- Leonin, Perotin
Name 3 important composers of the Renaissance.
- Josquin Desprez
- Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
- Thomas Weelkes
What does the word Renaissance mean? What is the main characteristic of this period?
- rebirth
- polyphony
- paraphase
- sonority
Describe the technique of imitation. In which music do we encounter this technique?
- balance among multiple voice parts
- one voice begins with motive (other voices join, same motive and words but at different pitch)
- most polyphony at the end of the 15th century
- Desprez’s Pange Lingua Mass
What does the term A capella style mean? Where originates this expression?
- performance by voices alone
- the name refers to the religious context of the chapel
What is a Madrigal? Main characteristics?
- short composition set to a one-stanza poem
- typically love poem
- rapid turnover of ideas and images
- ideally sung by one singer per part in an intimate setting
3 main stylistic innovations of the beginning Baroque Period? Name and explain each.
- rhythm and meter (more definite, regular. Emphasis on meter, bar lines)
- Texture: Basso continuo
- Functional harmony (developed major minor system, chords, tonality)
What are the reasons for invention of opera genre?
- entertainments put on to celebrate royal weddings
- portray individual emotion
Explain the term basso continuo. Which period?
- a set of chords continuously underlying the melody in a piece of Baroque music
- instruments playing the continuo, usually cello plus harpsichord or organ
How did the basso continuo transform the musical thinking?
- enriched both homophonic and polyphonic textures
- clarifying the harmony
- makes the texture bind or jell
- has systematic harmonic underpinnings
- music constructed from the bottom up
Name 3 important composers of the Baroque Period and one of their compositions.
- Claudio Monteverdi: The Coronation of Poppea
- Henry Purcell: Dido and Aeneas
- Girolamo Frescobaldi: Canzona, Balletto, and Corrente
What are the different art forms that are included in opera?
- music
- drama
- poetry
- dancing
- scene design
- special effects
Why may it be difficult to listen to opera?
contains deep feelings, emotional pressure
Explain the main differences between Aria and Recitative.
- recitative: declaiming words musically in a heightened, theatrical manner. Used for plot action, diaglogue
- aria: extended piece for solo singer, more musical elaboration and coherence
- aria is more melodic, rhythm is more consistent, meter is clearer, accompaniment includes entire orchestra
- aria: soliloquies or meditations
What does the term Opera Seria mean?
serious, heroic opera of Baroque period in Italy
Explain the term Da Capo Aria and its formal structure.
- aria in ABA form
- A section is sung da capo at the end
What is an Oratorio?
long semi dramatic piece on a religious subject for soloists, chorus, and orchestra
What is the content of the Messiah?
- tells the story of the life of Christ
- oratorio divided into 3 parts
1. prophecy and the birth of Christ
2. Crucifixion, descent into hell and resurrection
3. the day of the judgement and the promise of eternal life
