Vocal Genres:
Secular Music
Parisian chanson- French song; more homogeneous texture, rhythmic equalization of
parts, & increasing use of pervading imitation as the principal
structural device
frottola- secular Italian vocal genre of the late 15th & 16th centuries
-texture: chordal, texts that are lighthearted, comic or ironic
-avoids imitation and contrapuntal artifice, lively, dancelike rhythms w/
-frequent use of syncopation and hemiola
lute songs- strophic secular madrigals cultivated in England during early 17th cent.
notated for lute & any combination of one or more voices (usually 4)
-lute could substitute for or double as many as 3 of the 4 voices
air de cour- courtly air
- secular song in late 16th cent. & early 17th cent. France that could be
either polyphonic or homophonic (voice & lute)
cantata- used to denote a vocal work, usually sacred, for performance forces of varying
size, from soloist & basso continuo to soloists, chorus, & orchestra
Dance Music
pavane- slow, courtly dance in duple meter
bourre- lively dance in duple meter w/ prominent upbeat at beginning of each section
saltarello- lively dance that often follows a slower one
rondo- round dance performed by a large group moving in a circle at a lively tempo
Instrumental Music
monody- any work of the 17th cent. w/ a solo voice supported by basso continuo
sonata- that which is sounded (played on instruments)
- used in Renaissance & Baroque in broadest sense to indicate a work for an
instrument or instruments of any combo
- from 18th cent. onward, used to indicate a work for one o more solo instruments,
usually in 3 of 4 movements
sonata da camera- sonata of the chamber
- features a series of dance-related movements, popular in Baroque
sonata de chiesa- sonata of the church
- features a slow 1st mvmt. & at least 1 additional imitative mvmt,
popular in Baroque
concerto- used in 17th cent. to indicate broadly any work consisting of multiple forces,
such as voices & instruments
th
- from 18 cent. onward, reserved for works featuring a soloist or soloists
contrasted against a larger ensemble
concerto grosso- Baroque concerto typically featuring small group of soloists
(concertino) w/ its own basso continuo, against a larger ensemble (the
ripieno)
ripieno concerto- work for large ensemble w/ no soloists
solo concerto- features a single soloist or a pair of soloists against a ripieno ensemble
suite- Allemande (moderate, flowing, duple meter)
Courante (fast, triple meter)
Sarabande (slow, triple meter)
Gigue (fast, often w/ dotted rhythms, compound meter)
variation suite- set of contrasting dance-related mvmts based on one basic thematic idea
symphony- 17th & early 18th cent., a work or mvmt for large instrumental ensemble
- 18th cent., an overture to an opera or stage play
- 1720 onward, a multimovement work for instrumental ensemble
Keyboard Music
toccata- sectional, freely constructed keyboard work unrelated to any preexistent
material, & typically features rapid passagework
fantasia- follows no structures of large-scale convention but follows instead (or gives the
impression of following) the composers free flight of fantasy
- lies partway between song & speech
ricercar- freely composed work that seeks out a particular mode or thematic idea; full
of runs & passagework
-in the early 16th cent., improvisatory & preludial in character, often for lute or
keyboard
-by the mid-16th cent, term identified was w/ polyphonic works for keyboard or
for instrumental ensembles
th
-by 18 cent., term associated w/ fugues that used a large # or variety of
contrapuntal devices
fugue- incorporates a series of imitative entries, usually on a single theme but capable of
accommodating multiple themes as well
Vocabulary:
Vocal Music
through-composed- setting each line of text to essentially new music
recitative- style of singing characterized by syllabic declamation, w/ greater emphasis on
projection of the text at hand than on melody, more nearly
approximating the inflections of speech even while adhering to the basic
musical elements of pitch & rhythm
Instrumental Music
intabulations- any arrangement of an existing vocal work for a plucked string instrument
or keyboard
augmentation- lengthening of the original note values of the subject
diminution- speeding up of note values
head motif- thematic idea that occurs at the beginning of a mvmt or work & returns
prominently throughout the course of the music that follows
Keyboard Music
equal temperament- system of tuning that allowed keyboard players to play in any key
style brise- broken style; arpeggiated chords
Vocal and Instrumental Music
prima prattica- first practice
- coined in early 17th cent. to describe an older attitude toward text setting
in which the projection of a sung text was subordinated to the established
conventions of good counterpt
- traditional style of Renaissance polyphony
seconda prattica- second or later practice
- coined in early 17th cent. to describe new attitude toward text setting in
which all musical means were subordinated to the effective delivery of
the text being sung
- closely associated w/ emerging practice of monody
basso continuo- continuous bass that provides the harmonic framework for the solo voice
above it
figured bass- notational convention of the basso continuo in the 17th & 18th cent. using
numbers to indicate the desired intervals, thus the harmonies, to be played
above a given bass line
ground bass- short phrase repeated over and over again in the lowest voice
musica reservata- music reserved for a select audience of elite noble-born or
aristocratic listeners
intermedi- dramatic work, often w/ music, performed btwn the acts of a larger theatrical
presentation such as a play or opera
ritornello- a small return
- an opening musical idea that returns at several points over the course of a
work, usually after contrasting material of some kind
- especially important in the genre of the concerto
mannerism- designates a style of painting & sculpture characterized by the use of
distortion, exaggeration, & unsettling juxtaposition for dramatic effect
genere concitato- agitated or warlike manner
- style of writing, developed by Monteverdi, for evoking a mood of
agitation or anger, often through the use of rapid repeated notes and
fanfarelike figures
Dance Music
reprises- larger sections to be repeated
binary form- 2 reprises together
syntactic form- central idea is presented & varied over the course of an entire movement
paratactic form- each new section presents an essentially new idea
basso ostinato- ostinate bass; bass pattern repeated many times within the course of a
mvmt or work
passamezzo- step and a half
- bass pattern used throughout the Baroque
- dance similar to pavane, but w/ a lighter step
folia- craziness or insanity; wild & exuberant dance
- bass pattern used throughout the Baroque