NOTES: MUSIC AND OPERA
Introduction to Humanities
John Chiappone
 

FORMS OF MUSIC:  p 120   

MASS:  Choral work with 5 parts relating to a church mass.

CANTATA:  Baroque, usually a choral work, with one or more soloists.

ORATORIO: Large baroque work with chorus, symphony, and vocal soloists.  

FUGUE:  Starts with a single thematic voice that is repeated in different lines –counterpoint.

SYMPHONY: A 30-minute orchestral work. Opening movement is in the sonata form.

CONCERTO:  Orchestra an instrument soloist. Three movements: fast, slow, and fast. About 30 minutes.

ELEMENTS OF MUSIC (P121):

 1. SOUND: (Synthesizer Modules)

a. PITCH (Tone) – measures in vibrations per second. Low pitches are slow frequencies, and require longer and larger instruments. Keyboard picture p122. Octaves, Whole/Half Steps

b. DYNAMICS/Volume – Size of waves. See p124 chart pp, p, mp etc…

c. Color/Timbre –

d. Duration – Length of note. See chart p124. Play video

2. RHYTHM:

a.      BEAT -

b.     METER – Cluster of beats with accents.

- Double Meter – 2 beats to measure: 12 12 12

- Triple Meter – 3 beats to measure: 12 3 12 3 12 3

- Quadruple Meter - 4 beats to measure: 12 3 4 12 3 4  or  12 3 4  12 3 4 weaker second accent

-         Syncopation – Accent on unusual beats: See video.

c.     TEMPO -  Speed. ♪  = 60  means 60 quarter notes per minute. See chart p125 allegro etc.

3. MELODY -  Horizontal, linear, sung. Conjunct is close together. Disjunct is 2 or more steps apart.

4. HARMONY – 2 or more simultaneous notes. 2 is an interval. 3 or more is a chord. Consonant and dissonant.  

6. TEXTURE / SONORITY– Large intervals – open/thin texture. Smaller – closed/tight/thick (Sheets with 200 – 600 thread count)

a.                 Monophony – single line; there can be many of the same notes – not to be confused with monophonic instruments (melody).

b.                Polyphony – 2 or more melodies (counterpoint) – not to be confused with polyphonic instruments (harmony).

c.                 Homophonic – Chords accompanying one melody.
 

5. TONALITY – Scales / keys (all white keys). Equal Temperament / Well Tempered Clavier by Bach

 

OPERA

Began in Florence Italy
 

1. Grand Opera – Serious, tragic, heroic, 5 acts, all recitative (Sung dialogue)

2. Opera Comique – spoken dialogue (Not comical)

3. Opera Buffa - Comical

4. Operetta – spoken dialogue/light hearted

DEFINITIONS:
 

Recitative: Sung dialogue.

-         Recitative Secco – Little accompaniment

-         Recitative Stromento – Full accompaniment
 

Overture: Opening orchestral introduction

Aria – poetic and dramatic song