Vocal Music in the Classical Period: Evolution and Influence
The Classical period saw limited evolution in vocal music compared to the Baroque era. Key forms included opera, sacred choral works, and the Requiem. The serious opera, known as opera seria, featured dramatic historical narratives, while the comedic opera buffa emerged as a lighter alternative. Church music began resembling operatic styles, and composers often crossed between both genres. Major works included the Mass and Oratorio, with elements of operatic structure. The Requiem Mass, dedicated to the deceased, has also inspired composers across various traditions.
Vocal Music in the Classical Period: Evolution and Influence
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Presentation Transcript
Classical Period Vocal Music
While the instrumental works of the Classical era were huge, the vocal works of the time did not make much of an evolution from those of the Baroque era • Vocal forms include: • Opera, and sacred choral work like: Mass, Oratorio, Requiem
Opera • Reformation of the opera seria, or serious opera,dramatic with historical plot. • During the same time, the opera buffa,orcomedic opera, began developing. This type of opera was in sharp contrast to the opera seria. It catered more to the people who wanted to "revolt" against the more serious and dramatic opera.
Church music now resembled operatic music more than ever before. Almost all composers of church music during the Classical era also composed operatic music. Masses • Oratorio became operatic styled pieces of literature for the orchestra, the solo voice, and the chorus. Duets and arias even resembled operas; the only feature that distinguished them from opera was their texts.
1. The Mass Music in the Catholic Mass became very important and each part of the mass started to be written in song. Today, many major composers attempt to write a mass even if they are not Christian. 1. Kyrie-Kyrie means God have mercy. This is the first piece in a musical mass. 2. Gloria- Gloriameans Glory 3. Credo-Credo means Creed of Belief. 4. Sanctus-Sanctus meansHoly. 5. Benedictus- Benedictus means Blessed. 6. Agnus Dei- Lamb of GodmeansLamb of God.
2. The Requiem Mass • A requiem mass is a mass for the dead and means ‘rest’ in Latin. • The parts of the funeral service slightly differ from that of the Ordinary Catholic mass. • Composers of all religions also attempt to write Requiems.
