Baroque Opera, Cantata, and Oratorio

First Operas

• The word opera means “work” in Italian, suggesting that it combines the arts of solo and choral singing, declamation, acting and dancing in a staged spectacle.• “Dafne” by Jacopo Peri was the earliest composition

considered opera. It was written around 1597 and was lost.• A later work by Peri, “Euridice,” dating from 1600, is the

first opera score to have survived to the present day. • The honor of being the first opera still to be regularly

performed goes to Claudio Monteverdi's “L’Orfeo,” composed for the court of Mantua in 1607.

Video Assignment

Please watch segments 2–6 of this video.

http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=10878&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=The%20Birth%20and%20Life%20of%20Opera&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=

Operatic Terminology• Libretto—the words of an opera. Some composers wrote their own

librettos; some collaborated with their librettists.• Orchestral overture—an instrumental opening to most of the operas.

Some overtures are based on melodies from the arias.• Gluck Overture to Iphigenie en Aulidehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

ctko9P6IaMM• Aria—a formal song in which characters expresses their emotions.• Figaro’s Aria from The Barber of Seville by Rossinihttp

://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qHZkkgowdY• Recitative—the plot-driving passages sung in a style designed to imitate

and emphasize the inflections of speech.http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/scene-and-rondo-chio-mi-scordi-di-te-wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/• Ensembles—duets, trios, other ensembles, and choruses.• Verdi: La Traviata - III.Act - Gypsy and Picadors Chorus Noi siamo zingarellehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3bHC8B5o-k

Early Opera in Italy

• Opera houses were established. • Opera seria—noble and serious Italian opera.• Castrato voices.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8ZAraf5wMc

Claudio Monteverdi (1567–1643)

Operas:• Orfeo (1607)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCtACwEnjOo&feature=player_embedded• Arianna (1608)• Coronation of Poppea

(1642)

Baroque Opera in France• Italian opera was rejected in France.Please watch segment 17 in this video: http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=718&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=The%20Golden%20Age&IsSearch=Y&parentSeriesID=#

• A separate French tradition was founded by Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632–1687)—tragédie en musique or tragédie lyrique.• Was sung in French• Combined and intermingled recitatives

and arias.Please look at the fragments of following example at your consideration:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ3boqMcduY

Opera in England• Masque—a type of entertainment

contained songs and dances.• Henry Purcell (1659–1695)• Dido and Aeneas (1689)—composer’s first

opera.http://www.newtrinitybaroque.org/multimedia/audio.html

Watch segment 18:http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=718&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=The%20Golden%20Age&IsSearch=Y&parentSeriesID=#

Cantata• A cantata (literally “sung,” derived from the Italian word

“cantare”) is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir.

• Cantatas were in great demand for the services of the Lutheran church. • J. S. Bach, Cantata No. 140, Wachet auf (Sleepers Awake):

http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/abs-favoritecantatas/• Secular cantatas.• J. S. Bach, Cantata No. 202, Weddinghttp://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/arias-from-cantata-no-202-wedding-johann-sebastian-bach/• J. S. Bach, Coffee Cantata, BWV 211http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7oWS8VCLYE

Oratorio• Oratorio—a large musical composition for orchestra, choir and

soloists based on a biblical story and designated strictly to the concert performances.

• The help of a narrator was sometimes used to depict the action.

• Handel “Messiah”Watch segments 1, 2, 5, and 12.http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=2751&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=Handels%20Messiah&IsSearch=Y&parentSeriesID=

George Frideric Handel 1685–1759

A German-born British composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos.

Early Years (1685–1701)

• Was born in Halle, Germany, in a family of a barber-surgeon, who intended him to study law.• Handel secretly learned

how to play a clavichord and at an early age became a skillful harpsichord and organ performer.• Later studied performance

and composition with a church organist.

Handel-Haus—the birthplace of Handel

From Halle to Italy (1702–1710)• Started studying law at the

University of Halle and worked as an organist.• Became a violinist and

harpsichordist in the orchestra of the Hamburg Opera.• Composed first operas: Almira,

Nero, Daphne and Florindo.• Travelled to Italy in 1706.• Composed sacred music for the

Roman clergy, cantatas and oratorios, and Italian operas.

The Hamburg Opera in 1726

London

• 1710—Handel became Kapellmeister to German prince Georg.• 1712—moved to England.• Composed Water Music in 1717.• The Royal Academy of Music (1719–34)—Handel’s opera

company.• Composed operas.• 1737—suffered a stroke, which prevented him from

performing.• Composed oratorios: Saul, Israel in Egypt, The Messiah,

Samson.

Later Years

• Music for the Royal Fireworks—1749, 12,000 attended the first performance.• 1751—one eye started to fail and operation did not

improve his eyesight.• The last performance Handel attended was of Messiah.• Was buried in Westminster Abbey.• Never married and kept his personal life private.

Important Works• Operas (42): Agrippina (1709); Rinaldo (1711); Rodelinda

(1725); Serse (1738); Deidamia (1740); etc.• Oratorios (29): Acis and Galatea (1718); Messiah (1741);

Judas Maccabaeus (1746); Solomon, Susanna (1748); Jephtha (1752); etc.

• Cantatas and Chamber Duets: 120 Cantatas and 20 Chamber Duets

• Church Music: Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate (1712–13); Chandos Anthems (1717–18)

• Orchestra: Water Music (c.1717); Music for Royal Fireworks (1749): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q27aV-IiQWo

• Instrumental and Chamber Music: 6 Concerti Grossi (1734):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGV_NGZc4ZQ16

Organ Concerti; 7 Trio Sonatas (1739); 16 Keyboard Suites, 6 Fugues (1736), etc.

Video Assignment

Please watch this video and take notes. You will be asked to reflect on Handel’s life and legacy.

http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=29997&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=George%20Frideric%20Handel&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=

Required Readings:• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantata• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oratorio• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handel

Optional video assignments:http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=4073&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=The%20World%20of%20Claudio%20Monteverdi&IsSearch=Y&parentSeriesID=

http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=42100&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=Dido%20and%20Aeneas—From%20the%20Royal%20Opera%20House&IsSearch=Y&parentSeriesID=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnKFUNizi4E&list=PL-IB5Rpxcuks5vzJCyMKj7Xny-ZiPgibM