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OPERA IN ITALY AND ENGLAND

OPERA IN ITALY
CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI (1567- 1643)
MUSICAL STYLE:
• Embraced elements of baroque style such as the use of figured bass, major/minor tonality , monody , and “doctrine of the affections”
• Used chromaticism as an expressive device
• Used word painting in madrigals and operas
• Increase emotional intensity though the use of stile concitato
• In this operas, he increased the role of instruments to create moods and characters
• Differentiated between recitative and aria style in operas
• Increased the role of ensembles; established the love duet.
• His music is emotional passion.
GENRES AND TITLES:
• Madrigals: over 250 in 9 books
• Operas: L’Orfeo, L’Arianna , Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria, and L’incoronazione di Poppea
• Sacred music: masses, magnificants and Vespers
OPERA IN ENGLAND
HENRY PURCELL (1659- 1695)
• The most important English Baroque composer
• Prolific composer, despite short life
• Combines elements of national styles by embracing: lyric arias( Italian style), ornamentation and the French overture (French style0 and Renaissance madrigal and choral tradition (English style)
• Effective use of word painting
• Virtuosic keyboard style
GENRES AND TITLES:
• Sacred vocal works , anthems, hymns , Te Deum, Jubilate
• Opera: Dido and Aeneas
• Dramatic music: King Arthur, The Fairy Queen
• Solo songs
• Keyboard music , suites
• Orchestral works
ITALIAN OPERA IN ENGLAND
• After 1st public opera houses in Italy in early 17th, opera seria spread throughout Europe
• Frederic Handel (1685-1759) represents an important stage in Baroque opera. He learned to perfect the craft of this works in Hamburg, Italy and Hanover. Arrival to London his 1st opera was Rinaldo 1711, later 30 years dominated the London opera scene, he has 40 operas. He incorporated aspects of French, German and English style into his dramatic works
CANTATA
BACKGROUND
• From Italian cantare “to sing”
• Originally the term designated vocal works as opposed to instrumental works
• Began as a form of chamber music for solo voice with continuo
• Adopted into Lutheran church service in 18th
• J.S. Back composed over 300, of which approximately 200 have survived
CHARACTERISTICS
• A multi-movement vocal work
• Sacred or secular
• For vocal soloists and chorus with instrumental accompaniment
• Consists of recitatives, arias , ensembles and choruses
• Sacred cantatas performed as part of Lutheran church service in 18th century Germany