Baroque Period

ORATORIO

Large-scale composition for chorus, vocal soloists, and orchestra, usually set to a narrative text, but without acting, scenery, or costumes; often based on biblical stories.

SEQUENCE

In a melody, the immediate repetition of a melodic pattern on a higher or lower pitch.

WORD PAINTING

Musical representation of specific poetic images. Depicting images using music.

OPERA

Drama that is sung to orchestral accompaniment, usually a large-scale composition involving vocal soloists, chorus, orchestra, costumes, and scenery.

CONCERTO GROSSO

Composition for several instrumental soloists and small orchestra. Type of baroque concerto based on the opposition between a small group of solo instruments and the ripieno.

FIGURED BASS

Bass part of a baroque accompaniment with figures (numbers) above it indicating the chords to be played. Baroque practice consisting of an independent bass line that often includes numerals indicating the harmony to be supplied by the performer.

FUGUE

Polyphonic composition based on one main theme called subject.

CANTATA

Composition in several movements, usually written for chorus, one or more vocal soloists, and instrumental ensemble. The Lutheran ____________ usually includes chorales and was composed to reinforce the sermon.

TERRACED DYNAMICS

Suddenly changes between loud and soft dynamic levels.

RECITATIVE

Vocal line in an opera, oratorio, or cantata that imitates the rhythms and pitch fluctuations of speech, often serving to lead into an aria. Could be secco or accompagnato.

DOCTRINE OF AFFECTIONS

Baroque practice of attempting to project states of feeling and ideas in music. Usually one mood per section.

MOVEMENT

Piece that sounds fairly complete and independent but is part of a larger composition.

RITORNELLO

In Italian, refrain. Is a Repeated section of music usually played by the full orchestra in baroque compositions.

LIBRETTO

Text of an opera.

OVERTURE

Short musical composition, purely orchestra, which opens an opera and sets the overall dramatic mood. Orchestral introductions to later acts of an opera are called preludes.

SUITE

A set of dance-inspired movements all written in the same key but differing in tempo, meter, and character.

SUBJECT

Theme of a Fugue.

TRIO SONATA

Composition with three melodic lines: two high ones, each played by one instrument; and a basso continuo, played by two instruments.

GROUND BASS

Also known as a Basso Ostinato. Variation form in which a musical idea in the bass is repeated over and over while the melodies above it constantly change.

NATURALISTIC

The word baroque has at various times meant all of the following except

1600-1750

Baroque style flourished in music during the period

WOLFGANG. A. MOZART

All of the following were major baroque composers except

FAVORED HOMOPHONIC TEXTURE

The early and late baroque periods differed in that composer's in the early baroque

ELABORATE AND ORNAMENTAL

Baroque melodies often are

THE SUCCESSIVE REPETITION OF A MUSICAL IDEA AT HIGHER OR LOWER PITCH LEVELS

Melodic sequence refers to

THE SUDDEN ALTERNATION FROM ONE DYNAMIC LEVEL TO ANOTHER

Terraced dynamics refers to

HARPISCHORD

The main keyboard instruments of the baroque period were the organ and the

a. supervised and directed the musical performances
b. composed much of the music required
c. was responsible for the discipline of the other musicians

The music director of a court in the baroque period

A HIGH CLASS SERVANT WITH FEW PERSONAL RIGHTS

The position of the composer during the baroque period was that of

THREE

A concerto grosso most often has ______________ movement(s).

TUTTI

The large group of players in a concerto grosso is known as the

FAST, SLOW, FAST

The concerto grosso most often has three movements whose tempo markings are

RITORNELLO

The principal and often recurring theme of a concerto grosso movement is called the

IT GIVES A SOLO ROLE TO THE HARPISCHORD

Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 is unusual in that

FUGUE

A polyphonic composition based on one main theme, a cornerstone of baroque music, is the

LIBRETTO

The text, or book, of a musical dramatic work is called the

ARIA

A song for solo voice with orchestral accompaniment is called

RECITATIVE

__________ refers to a vocal line that imitates the rhythms and pitch fluctuations of speech.

OVERTURE

An ____ is an orchestral composition performed before the curtain rises on a dramatic work.

THE RHYTHMS AND PITCH FLUCTUATIONS OF SPEECH

The members of the Florentine Camerata wanted the vocal line of their music to follow

a. received the highest fees of any musicians
b. combined the lung power of a man with the vocal range of a woman
c. were male singers who had been castrated before puberty

Castrati

HENRY PURCELL

Dido and Aeneas, which many consider to be the finest opera ever written to an English text, was composed by

ONE TO EIGHT INSTRUMENTS

The sonata in the baroque period was a composition in several movements for

SONATA DA CHIESA

A sonata intended to be played in church, and therefore dignified and suitable for sacred performance, was called a

WAS DANCE-LIKE IN CHARACTER AND WAS INTENDED FOR COURT PERFORMANCE

The sonata da camera

WORK

The abbreviation op. stands for opus, Latin for

VENICE

Antonio Vivaldi is closely identified with the musical life of

VIOLINIST

Antonio Vivaldi was famous and influential as a virtuoso

FOUR

Of Bach's twenty children, _____ went on to become well-known composers.

a. taught organ and composition, gave recitals, and was often asked to judge the quality of organs
b. was responsible for the musical education of some fifty-five students in the St. Thomas school
c. rehearsed, conducted, and usually composed an extended

While at Leipzig, Bach

MUSIC CREATED AT THE SAME TIME AS IT IS PERFORMED

Improvisation is

OPERA

Bach created masterpieces in every baroque form EXCEPT the

WALTZ

Which of the following is NOT a part of the baroque suite?

CHORALE

The _______ is a Lutheran congregational hymn tune.

a. had been adapted from Catholic hymns
b. were composed in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
c. had been adapted from folk songs

The Lutheran chorale tunes

CANTATA

A sung piece, or choral work with or without vocal soloists, usually with orchestral accompaniment, often used in the Lutheran service is the

ORATORIO

A large-scale composition for chorus, vocal soloists, and orchestra, usually set to a narrative biblical text, is called a(n)

ACTING, SCENERY, OR COSTUMES

Oratorio differs from opera in that it has no

STORIES FROM THE BIBLE

The first oratorios were based on

ITALY

Oratorios first appeared in

ORATORIO

George Frideric Handel's Messiah is an example of

REQUIEM

A Mass for the dead is a

WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Some indication of the acclaim and respect given Purcell by his contemporaries in England can be seen from the fact that he is buried in

VIRGIL'S EPIC POEM THE AENEID

Dido and Aeneas, which many people consider the finest opera ever written to an English text, was inspired by

GROUND BASS OR BASSO OSTINATO

A common variation form in the baroque is the

ST. MARK'S, VENICE

Monteverdi spent the greater part of his career in the most important church post in Italy, that of

DISSONANCE

To achieve intensity of expression, Monteverdi used _________ with unprecedented freedom and daring

EURYDICE

In Monteverdi's opera, Orfeo, Orpheus goes to Hades in the hope of bringing __________ back to life

All twelve of Monteverdi's operas are regularly performed in Europe and America.

Which of the following statements is not true?

TREMELO

To evoke angry or warlike feelings in some of his texts, Monteverdi introduced new orchestral effects, including pizzicato and

BASSO CONTINUO

Monteverdi's vocal music was ordinarily supported by a ______________________ and other instruments