IEB Music History Notes covering all sections from Opera to South African Urban Music. These notes are a summary on all sections and prescribed works and will aid you in your preparation for the history paper. The notes include definitions where necessary, characteristics of the period/the prescrib...
OPERA
DEFINITIONS:
Recitative: a vocal line that imitates the rhythm and intonation of speech. This is used to move the
story along and provide context as opposed to the soloist singing an aria.
Recitative Secco/Dry Recitative: has cello or harpsichord accompaniment
Recitative Accompagnato: accompanied by an orchestra
Aria: a song for solo voice accompanied by an orchestra
Librettist: the person who writes the libretto (libretto is the text of an opera)
Opera Seria: can be described as a more serious opera with virtuoso singers
Opera Buffa: a comical opera – Don Giovanni is an opera buffa due to Leporello’s comical character.
1. PRESCRIBED WORK: DON GIOVANNI
Opening Key: F Major
Opera Buffa due to comical elements including Catalogue Aria and Leporello’s comical character
Typical compositions of the classical period: paired woodwinds in the score, small orchestra (not a
large orchestra like those in the romantic period)
MUSICAL ELEMENTS PORTRAYING FEELINGS
Mozart expresses Donna Anna’s rage/anger through dotted rhythms
Tension between Don Giovanni and Donna Anna (bars 70 - 74) is created through: tremolo in the
violin parts, crescendos and rising melodies.
A morbid atmosphere is created after the Commandatore’s death through the funeral march-like
rhythm, the slow tempo and the low pitch creating a feeling of foreboding.
DON GIOVANNI (BARITONE) Don Giovanni is a mezzi character (middle
character) as his character is not fully developed. He
imitates the singing style of other characters. He is
constantly changing between Leporello and Donna
Anna’s singing style which masks his own character
and adapts to those around him.
DONNA ANNA (SOPRANO) The daughter of the Commandatore. Don Giovanni
seduces Donna Anna creating the root of the tension
in the opera.
LEPORELLO (BASS) Leporello’s character makes the opera comical
allowing it to classify as an opera buffa. He is Don
Giovanni’s servant.
COMMANDATOR (BASS) The father of Donna Anna. Passes away in a battle
against Don Giovanni.
INTRODUCTION ANALYSIS
Leporello is impatient and is pacing up and down outside The Commendatore’s palace.
, Leporello’s patience is portrayed through the orchestra’s rhythm
sudden fortes at the end of phrases also indicate impatience
Modulation and crescendo as Donna Anna appears on stage
Music becomes fast and agitated to portray Donna Anna’s panic
The music is harmonically complex in comparison to the simple harmonies at the
beginning of the scene. Simple harmonies (Tonic – Dominant – Tonic) are used to portray
Leporello’s simple character.
Morbid atmosphere as The Commendatore dies
Orchestral descending chromatic lines
March-like rhythm
MADAMINA ANALYSIS
Madamina is a Catalogue Aria and these are typical in Opera Buffas. In a Catalogue Aria, one lists
things. In this case, it is the women that Don Giovanni has seduced that is being listed. The rhythm at
the start of this aria resembles a counting machine. Both the words of the music as well as the melodic
lines describe the types of women Don Giovanni has seduced.
music is a gracious minuet – gracious blond women
crescendo and rising melody – tall women
patter technique used and words “la piccini” – little women
MUSICALS
First, the difference between Musicals and Operas…
MUSICAL OPERA
Recitative Spoken Dialogue
1600s 1920s
Italian (generally) English (generally)
No sound amplification Microphones
2 Acts 1 – 5 Acts
Arias are complex Simple, repetitive and catchy songs
Tells a story Tells a story
2. PRESCRIBED WORK: OLIVER!
Based off the book Oliver Twist and was composed in 1959
Composed by Lionel Bart
OLIVER TWIST (TREBLE) The main character who is a lonely boy in a
workhouse.
FAGIN (BARITONE) Criminal who tries to lure Oliver into his word.
THE ARTFUL DODGER (TREBLE) The smartest of Fagin’s pick-pocketers. He
introduces Oliver to Fagin.
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