MUS 121 Lecture Notes - Figured Bass, Monody, Recitative
27 Feb 2018
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Department
Course
Professor
• Early Opera
o Developed in Florence around 1600 until about 1750
o Opera – melodies composed for actors to sing as they play dramatic roles
o The earliest kow operati work was Jaoi Peri’s Eurydie
• Style
o This style was created to emphasize the text
o This style, kow as oody, ours whe the siger’s elody follows the
accented patterns the text would have if it were spoken
o Monodic texture is homophonic because it consists of one melodic line with
accompaniment
o Accompanying forces in early opera were know as asso otiuo
instruments
o Basso continuo – literally eas otiuous ass. The oposer would write a
ass lie with a kid of usial shorthad alled figured ass uder the otes
o Basso continuo was used in other genres throughout the baroque period. For
this reaso, it is soeties alled the asso otiuo period
o Recitative – a combination of singing and speech used in opera to develop the
plot. Much like monody, rhythm was flexible and it followed the natural
inflection of the text
o Arias were meant to be exclusive parts of the opera. The main goal was to
showcase the singe. Arias, unlike recitatives, do not develop the plot
Baroque Solo and Chamber Music
• Keyboard Music
o The primary keyboard instruments of the baroque era were the organ and the
harpsicord
o Prelude – generally free in form and improvisatory in style. It customarily
introduced another piece or group of pieces
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Document Summary
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