Evolution of Vocal Music in the 17th and 18th Centuries
Explore the transition from the sacred polyphony of Palestrina to the opera seria of Handel, including key composers, styles, and innovations in vocal music during this period.
Evolution of Vocal Music in the 17th and 18th Centuries
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Presentation Transcript
Chapter Eight Vocal Music, 1600-1650
Sacred Music (early 17th C) • Prima prattica (old)- Palestrina & Zarlino- remains in use • Seconda prattica (new)- Monteverdi, et al. • Vespro della Beata Vergine (1610) • Mixed settings of sacred texts • Giovanni Gabrieli (1554-1612), organist • St. Mark’s (San Marco) • “In Ecclesiis” (1590s?) • Polychoral settings- multiple groups- physically separated • Canzon Primi Toni (1612) • Sonata pian e forte
Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672) • German student ofG. Gabrieli (1609-1612) • Kapellmeister in Dresden(1617-1672) • Chiefly Sacred music in Latin & German • Singet dem Herren ein neues Lied (Anth I/79) • Saul, was verfolgst du mich? (Anth I/80)
Chapter Nine Vocal Music, 1650-1750
Opera in France • Controlled by King • Emphasis on dance • Tragédie en musique- Philippe Quinault (poet)- J.-B. Lully (composer) • Anth I/81 – Armide (1686) • Overture (the King’s “24”)- “overdotting” • Act II/ sc. 5 (Renaud asleep, Armide approaches) Jean-Baptiste Lullyby Paul Mignard (1639-91)
Opera seria • (Just what it says) “Serious Opera”- Tragic content • Plots often based on Classical Antiquity • vs. opera buffa (“comic opera”) [later] • Italy (and beyond) 1680s to late 1700s- most opera seria sung in Italian • Action (Recitative) – Reflection (Aria) • Development of standard poetic forms • Pietro Metastasio (1698-1782) & others- librettist whose text were set over 700 times
Da Capo Aria • Two parts (A – B)- contrasting emotions- “Ma” (…“but”…) • Performed w/ da Capo= A – B – A’ • Ornamented return • Cadenza • Instrumental ritornello • G. F. Handel (1685-1757) • Giulio Cesare in Egitto- London (1724) • Act I, Scene 5 (Anth I/82)- Recitative (action)“Regni Cleopatra…” - Aria (reflection)“Non disperar…” - Kathleen Battle (w/ ornamented da capo)
Castrato • Male soprano (contralto) • Surgically altered before puberty (!) • Heroic leads in opera seria • 18th C “rock stars” • Farinelli, Senesino, et al. • “L’empio sleale, indegno”- Giulio Cesare, Act I, sc. 6- Derek Ragin, countertenor • BBC Documentary: Castrato (6 parts) “Senesino”(Francesco Bernardi, 1686-1758)Cesar in Handel’s Giulio Cesare