21M.011 | Fall 2024 | Undergraduate

Introduction to Western Music

Week 5: Music from Continental Europe in the Baroque: Vocal Genres

Announcements

Listenings & Readings

Lecture 5: Vocal Genres from Continental Europe in the Baroque

  • Claudio Monteverdi, Vespers of 1610 (Vespers)
    • “Deus in adjutorium meum intende” (incipit)
    • “Domine ad adjuvandum me festina” (response)
  • Henry Purcell, Dido and Aeneas (opera)
    • “Thy Hand Belinda” (recitative)
    • “When I am Laid in Earth” (aria) 
  • George Frideric Handel, Giulio Cesare (opera)
    • “V’adoro, pupille” from Act 2 (da capo aria)

Recitation 5A Listening & Reading (Neff)

Recitation 5A Listening & Reading (Goetjen)

Key Terms

Vespers  

A type of prayer service in the Roman Catholic Church. 

Incipit and response 

The opening words of a psalm or other sacred text. It is sung by a soloist as a chant, and the rest of the psalm verse (response) is sung by a choir or congregation. 

Opera  

A story or drama presented in music. It is sung throughout using two techniques for conveying the text: 

  1. Recitative (think “recitation”)
    • declaiming words musically in a heightened, theatrical manner  
    • moves the action of the story forward 
  2. Aria
    • elaborate, extended piece for solo singer  
    • pauses the action to immerse the audience in the character’s feeling 

Da capo aria 

An aria that follows a formal structure, generally A  B  A’ and features a returning instrumental section called a ritornello

Basso continuo (“Continuous bass”) 

Bass line played by an instrument that can also play chords, such as a keyboard (organ, harpsichord) or lute. Other instruments, such as a cello, might play the bass line as well.  

Ground bass 

A shorter bassline (music played in the lowest ranges of an instrumental ensemble) that is repeated to form the foundation for an aria or instrumental movement. 

Period instruments 

Musical instruments from the time of the composer or instruments constructed according to specifications from the time of the composer. Generally applied to instruments from before the 19th century.

Course Info

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Fall 2024
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