Periods of Music

Periods of Music• Aim of unit:

– To learn about the periods of music required for Higher Music

• Aim of lesson: – To learn about the

Baroque Period• By the end of the

lesson you should:– Be able to describe

Baroque vocal music

Baroque• Music written between c. 1600-1750

• Famous composers include Bach, Handel and Vivaldi

• Development of new forms of music such as opera, concerto, and oratorio

Baroque Period• Originated in Italy• Architecture –

very extravagant and intricately detailed

• Art – heavily influenced by religion, theatrical and dramatic in style

• Music – very ordered, lively and tuneful

Key Musical Features• Polyphony• Harpsichord• Major/Minor• Long, flowing melodies• Imitation • Sequence• Dynamics• Ornaments

• Oratorio• Cantata• Passion • Opera• Chorale• Concerto• Forms

– Suite– Ternary– Da Capo Aria

• Fugue• Canon• Chorale Prelude

Opera• A musical drama

featuring singing, acting, set, costumes and orchestral accompaniment

• Operas are usually written in a foreign language such as Italian or German

Oratorio• A story from the Bible set to music• Features soloists, chorus and orchestra• Can include recitative, arias and duets• Is performed without acting or stage design• Can be in English or German

Recitative• A type of vocal writing where the

music follows the rhythm of speech. It is used in operas to move the story or plot on.

Aria• A song with orchestral

accompaniment which is heard in opera

Cantata• A small-scale oratorio• Features soloists, chorus and

orchestra

Passion• An oratorio which

is based on the ‘Passion’, the Crucifixion of Christ.

• Text is in German and features chorales as well as recitatives, arias and choruses

video

Chorale• A hymn tune sung in German

Female Voices• Soprano – Highest female voice

• Mezzo-Soprano - A female singer whose voice range lies between that of a soprano and an alto

• Alto – Lowest female voice

Male Voices• Counter Tenor - A male adult voice whose

range is higher than a tenor's

• Tenor - Highest male voice

• Baritone - A male voice whose range lies between that of Bass and Tenor.

• Bass – Lowest male voice

2 videos

A Capella• Unaccompanied singing

Melisma Vocal music in which several notes are sung to one syllable

SyllabicVocal music where each syllable is given one note only

1. Tick one box from column A to identify the voice and one box from column B to identify

the type of compositionColumn AColumn B

Soprano

Counter Tenor

Baritone

Bass

Recitative

Chorale

Opera

Passion

2. Tick three boxes to describe what you hear

Alto

Ground Bass

Melisma Oratorio

Soprano

Opera

3. Tick one box to describe the type of composition

Passion

Oratorio

Recitative

Opera

4. Tick three boxes to describe the music

syllabic

consort

aria

a cappella

homophonic

chorale

Concerto• A work for soloist and orchestra e.g.

solo violin and orchestra, solo piano and orchestra etc

Concerto Grosso• A type of concerto in which a group

of soloists (concertino) is combined and contrasted with a larger group (ripieno).

video

Harpsichord

• Keyboard instrument

• Strings inside are plucked when a key is pressed

• No dynamicsvideo

Basso Continuo

• A bass line (basso continuo) played by cello, bass, viola or bassoon. In addition the harpsichord, organ or lute player was expected to fill in harmonies built on that bass line. Sometimes figures were written under the bass line indicating the chords the composer would like played. This was called figured bass.

Chorale Prelude• An extended composition for organ based on a

chorale melody. The melody can be treated in a variety of ways, e.g. fugal style and variation form.

video

Canon• Strict imitation. After one part starts to play or

sing a melody, another part enters shortly afterwards with exactly the same melody.

video

Fugue

• A contrapuntal piece based on a theme (subject) announced in one voice part alone, then imitated by other voices in close succession.

video

Polyphony/Contrapuntal• Texture which consists of two or more

melodic lines, possibly of equal importance and which weave independently of each other.

Ternary Form• A B A. - A form where

the first section is always repeated at the end.

Da Capo Aria• An aria in Ternary

form (ABA) used in opera and oratorio in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Suite• A set of dances or a collection of pieces which

are part of a larger scale work.

Imitation• Where the melody

is immediately copied by another part. It need not be an exact copy.

Sequence• A melodic phrase which is

immediately repeated at a higher or lower pitch.

Dynamics• Forte:

• Mezzo-Forte:

• Mezzo-Piano:

• Piano:

Loud

Quite Loud

Quite Soft

Soft

Crescendo• To gradually become louder

Diminuendo• To gradually become quieter

Ornaments• Embellishments or decorations to the

melody

Trill• Rapid and repeated movement

between two adjacent notes.

Turn• Four notes which turn round the main

note with the note above, the main note, the note below, and the main note again.  An inverted turn starts with the note below reversing the process.

Mordent• An ornament which sounds the main

note, the note above and then the main note again. An inverted mordent sounds the main note, the note below and then the main note again.

Appoggiatura• An ornament which sounds like a

leaning note

Acciaccatura • An ornament which sounds like a

crushed note played very quickly on the beat or just before it.

Obbligato• A prominent solo

instrument part in a piece of vocal music.

Countermelody• A melody played against the main

melody

Cadenza• A passage of music

which allows soloists to display their technical ability in singing or playing an instrument.

• Most commonly found in concerto

Tierce de Picardie• The final chord of a piece of music in

the minor key is changed to major • The light at the end of the tunnel

Suspension• When a note from

one chord is held over to the next chord creating a discord, and is then resolved by moving one step to make a concord.

Coloratura• Term for very high, florid vocal

singing involving scales, runs and ornaments

1 The group of the main body of strings in a Concerto Grosso…

2. Baroque composition for instrumental soloists and orchestra …

3. Bass line in early compositions up to and including the Baroque period…

4. The solo group in a Concerto Grosso…

5. An Ornament: note itself, note above, note itself, note below…

6. Set of dances or pieces; on their own or part of larger work…

Homework

Write a short definition of these concepts

Try to do this without referring to your notes!• Tierce de Picardie• Fugue• Obbligato• Suite• Concerto Grosso

• Da Capo Aria• Countertenor• Oratorio• Passion• Chorale Prelude