VC Music History Review!

VC - here are the pieces I've been playing for you in class. Use this guide to help you prepare for your quiz Friday.

Medieval Time Period

(400 - 1400ish)

Notable composer: Hildegard

Genre: Chant

Notable Characteristics:

• A Cappella (no instruments)
• Usually in Latin 
• Sung in unison choir (no harmonies) or soloist
• Very flow-y, no noticeable rhythm or pulse. 

Dies Irae chant: 

O Rubor Sanguinis by Hildegard:

Another example of chant: 

Renaissance Time Period
(1400 - 1600ish)
Notable composer: Palestrina
Genres: Motet, Madrigal

Notable Characteristics:

• A cappella
• Harmonies!
• Rhythm is present but still very subtle. 
• Motets have sacred text, madrigals have secular text

Sicut Cervus by Palestrina (Motet)

Almighty and Everlasting God by Gibbons (Motet)

The Silver Swan by Gibbons (Madrigal)

Fire, Fire by Morley (Madrigal)

If Ye Loved Me by Tallis (Motet)

Baroque Time Period

(14600 - 1750ish)

Notable composer: Handel, Bach
Genres: Opera, Oratorio

Notable Characteristics:

• Instruments!
• Story-telling through music (both opera and oratorio)
• Choirs are getting bigger
• Dynamics!

"Since by Man Came Death" from Messiah by Handel (oratorio)

"Tu Sei Morta" from L'Orfeo by Monteverdi (opera)

"Kreuzige, Kreuzige" from St. John Passion by Bach (Oratorio)

"Rejoice Greatly" from Messiah by Handel (Oratorio Aria)

Classical Time Period

(1750 - 1810ish)

Notable composer: Mozart
Genres: Opera, Oratorio, Art song

Notable Characteristics:

• Instruments!
• Story-telling through music (both opera and oratorio)
• Choirs and orchestras are getting bigger
• Piano is invented (art song!)

"Act 2 Finale" from Marriage of Figaro by Mozart (opera)

"Dies Irae" from Requiem by Mozart (oratorio)

"Non piu andrai" from Marriage of Figaro by Mozart (Opera Aria)

Romantic Time Period
1810ish - 1900ish
Genres: opera, art song, oratorio, ballet
Notable characteristics:

• EVERYTHING is about the GRAND over-the-top gesture (either through poetry or dynamics or costumes or staging... it's all EXTRA!!!!)

"Dies Irae" from Requiem by VERDI (oratorio)

"Ah, il più lieto" from The Barber of Seville by Rossini (opera aria)

 

March from Aida by Verdi (opera)

"Gretchen am Spinnrade" by Schubert (art song)

Pas de Deux from Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky (ballet)