The Baroque Period Flashcards
S = STYLE M/H = MELODY HARMONY R/T = RHYTHM TEMPO T/S/F = TEXTURE STRUCTURE FORM T/D = TIMBRE DYNAMICS L = LITERACY
what is a trill?
Ornaments
A trill is a quick movement back and forth between two notes.
what is a grace note?
Ornaments
A grace note is a very short note played just before the main one.
What is homophonic
T/S/F
homophonic, you will hear many sounds moving at the same time.
Listen the opening of Vivaldi’s ‘Spring’ from The Four Seasons.
What is polyphonic
T/S/F
polyphonic, you will hear many sounds weaving in and out of each other.
Listen to J.S. Bach’s ‘Fugue in G minor’ (BMV 578).
What is Binary form?
T/S/F
Binary form (AB) has two sections: A and then B. Each section is usually played twice. (AA : BB)
What is a canon?
T/S/F
A canon is a form of a round (like Frère Jacques). The melody keeps re-entering at different parts, creating polyphony.
Listen to Pachelbel’s ‘Canon in D’ – the original one hit wonder.
What is a sequence?
A sequence is a phrase repeated at a higher or lower pitch.
What is a ground bass?
A ground bass is a bass line that repeats many times while the upper parts are varied.
Listen to Monteverdi’s ‘Zefiro Torna’.
What is secular?
Works not written for the church are secular.
Listen to Battista’s ‘Sonata Terza’.
What is a sacred piece?
Works written for the Christian church are sacred. The lyrics will mention God, Biblical texts or words like ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Gloria’, ‘Agnus Dei’.
Listen to Handel’s ‘The Heavens are Telling’ from The Creation.
What is a Modulation?
Modulation is when the music changes key. For example, from C major to G major.
what is a chorus?
Vocal
A chorus is another word for a choir. Most choruses are SATB (Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass) but you do get male voice choirs.
Listen to Handel’s ‘And the Glory of the Lord’ from The Messiah.
what is a recitative?
Vocal
A recitative is where singers will ‘half-speak/halfsing’ to move the story along. The accompaniment strips back to minimum. Remember “recite” – to speak.
Listen to Handel’s ‘Thou Fair Inhabitant of Nile’ from Solomon.
what is a aria?
Vocal
An aria is a vocal solo from a larger work like an opera or oratorio, normally accompanied by an orchestra. It usually follows a recitative.
Listen to Vivaldi’s ‘Liquore Ingrato’ from Tito Manlio
what is an oratorio?
Vocal
An oratorio is a large scale sacred work for solo singers, chorus and orchestra. It includes recitatives, arias and choruses.
Listen to Handel’s ‘For Unto Us a Child is Born’ from The Messiah.
