Exam next Tuesday 4/8Exam next Tuesday 4/8

Review QuestionsReview Questions

• What type of piece is Brahms’s What type of piece is Brahms’s German Requiem?German Requiem?

• What does Requiem mean?What does Requiem mean?• What type of music is Verdi known What type of music is Verdi known

for?for?• What are some characteristics of his What are some characteristics of his

operas?operas?

Verdi’s OperasVerdi’s Operas

• Verdi’s music is divided into Verdi’s music is divided into “numbers” (arias, recit, “numbers” (arias, recit, choruses), yet fluid dramachoruses), yet fluid drama

• Followed conventions for arias-Followed conventions for arias-recitatives-ensemblesrecitatives-ensembles

• Great emphasis of the singer: Great emphasis of the singer: parts were written with specific parts were written with specific singers in mindsingers in mind

Verdi’s RigolettoVerdi’s Rigoletto

• Listening guide 51Listening guide 51• Story…Story…• Based on Victor Hugo play, The Based on Victor Hugo play, The

King is AmusedKing is Amused• Rigoletto is a court jester, enemies Rigoletto is a court jester, enemies

place a curse on himplace a curse on him

Verdi’s RigolettoVerdi’s Rigoletto

• Gilda is his daughterGilda is his daughter• Duke is a nasty seducer of women an Duke is a nasty seducer of women an

he’s after Gildahe’s after Gilda• Gilda gets abducted by Rigoletto’s Gilda gets abducted by Rigoletto’s

enemiesenemies• Sparafucile is an assassin slated to Sparafucile is an assassin slated to

kill the Dukekill the Duke

Verdi’s RigolettoVerdi’s Rigoletto

• Gilda and Rigoletto watch as the Gilda and Rigoletto watch as the Duke seduces Sparafucile’s sisterDuke seduces Sparafucile’s sister

• Gilda offers herself to be killed in Gilda offers herself to be killed in place of the Dukeplace of the Duke

• Rigoletto gets a body bag; thinks the Rigoletto gets a body bag; thinks the dke is inside, but it’s really Gildadke is inside, but it’s really Gilda

• Curse is fulfilledCurse is fulfilled

Verdi’s RigolettoVerdi’s Rigoletto

• Act 3 excerpts...Act 3 excerpts...• Duke-sings a famous tuneful Duke-sings a famous tuneful

STROPHIC song: Woman is STROPHIC song: Woman is fickle--ha hafickle--ha ha

• Song captures the Duke’s Song captures the Duke’s character perfectlycharacter perfectly

Verdi’s RigolettoVerdi’s Rigoletto

• Ensemble…Ensemble…• classic ensemble technique: classic ensemble technique:

each character responds each character responds differently to situation; all sing differently to situation; all sing together, but in different styles together, but in different styles (like Mozart’s Figaro(like Mozart’s Figaro

Verdi’s RigolettoVerdi’s Rigoletto

• Listen for differences in style: Listen for differences in style: Maddalena and the Duke are Maddalena and the Duke are passionate, singing in long passionate, singing in long lyrical lines..lyrical lines..

• While Gilda is angry: her While Gilda is angry: her singing is short and punctuatedsinging is short and punctuated

Richard WagnerRichard Wagner

• (1813-1883)(1813-1883)• Huge innovator in German operaHuge innovator in German opera

Wagner: Philosophical Wagner: Philosophical StuffStuff

• Believed that traditional opera was Believed that traditional opera was artificial becauseartificial because

• Divided into numbers (like Verdi)Divided into numbers (like Verdi)• Ensembles where everyone sang Ensembles where everyone sang

different things at oncedifferent things at once• Solution: “endless melody” or Solution: “endless melody” or

continours music-no separation inteo continours music-no separation inteo recitative and ariarecitative and aria

Wagner: Philosophical Wagner: Philosophical StuffStuff

• Believed in unity of the arts, called it Believed in unity of the arts, called it collective artwork (Gesamtkunstwerk)collective artwork (Gesamtkunstwerk)

• Poetry, state sets, the architecture of the Poetry, state sets, the architecture of the theater, all were just as important as theater, all were just as important as musicmusic

• Believed opera should be more natural, Believed opera should be more natural, like spoken drama ..,like spoken drama ..,

• So he called his operas “music dramas.”So he called his operas “music dramas.”

Wagner: misc. interesting Wagner: misc. interesting thingsthings

• Pontificated on many issues, Pontificated on many issues, obnoxious antisemitismobnoxious antisemitism

• Participated in a political uprising, had Participated in a political uprising, had to go into exile.to go into exile.

• Built his own theater at BayreuthBuilt his own theater at Bayreuth• Second wife was the daughter of Second wife was the daughter of

Franz Liszt, his close friend (and the Franz Liszt, his close friend (and the wife of another friend).wife of another friend).

Wagner’s Music Wagner’s Music dramasdramas

• On mythological or historical On mythological or historical topicstopics

• Orchestra very important, often Orchestra very important, often having the more lyrical melody.having the more lyrical melody.

• Vocal parts less tuneful and Vocal parts less tuneful and memorablememorable

The Ring CycleThe Ring Cycle

• 4 operas (Rheingold, Die Walkure, 4 operas (Rheingold, Die Walkure, Siegfried, Gotterdamerung)Siegfried, Gotterdamerung)

• Written over a period of c. 40 yearsWritten over a period of c. 40 years• Takes 16 hours to performTakes 16 hours to perform• Complicated story based on Norse Complicated story based on Norse

mythologymythology• Lust for power, incest, adultery, Lust for power, incest, adultery,

heroismheroism

Wagner’s Ring CycleWagner’s Ring Cycle

• Uses LEITMOTIFS: a specific musical Uses LEITMOTIFS: a specific musical theme that represents a character, theme that represents a character, event. object or concept.event. object or concept.

• Wagner didn’t invent the idea, but took Wagner didn’t invent the idea, but took it to a whole new level of complexity-it to a whole new level of complexity-

• some listeners have found 200 some listeners have found 200 leitmotifs in the Ring Cycle!!leitmotifs in the Ring Cycle!!

• Star Wars illustrates the leitmotif Star Wars illustrates the leitmotif concept wellconcept well

Die WalküreDie Walküre

• Second opera in the RingSecond opera in the Ring• A very simplified summary:A very simplified summary:• Gold in the Rhine river guarded by Gold in the Rhine river guarded by

maidensmaidens• Who ever can steal it and make a ring Who ever can steal it and make a ring

from it will have power, but must from it will have power, but must renounce loverenounce love

• The dwarf Alberich does this The dwarf Alberich does this

Die WalküreDie Walküre

• The gods steal it from himThe gods steal it from him• This begins a series of events that end with This begins a series of events that end with

the downfall of the gods (16 hours later)the downfall of the gods (16 hours later)• Wotan is the head of the godsWotan is the head of the gods• Brünnhilde is his daughterBrünnhilde is his daughter• Siegmund and Sieglinde are his twin son Siegmund and Sieglinde are his twin son

and daughter, who have fallen in love with and daughter, who have fallen in love with each othereach other

Die WalküreDie Walküre

• Wotan must punish them because Wotan must punish them because Sieglinde has cheated on her husbandSieglinde has cheated on her husband

• Tells Brünnhilde she must let Siegmund Tells Brünnhilde she must let Siegmund get killed in a fight with Hunding, get killed in a fight with Hunding, Sieglinde’s husbandSieglinde’s husband

• But Brunnhilde disobeys him, But Brunnhilde disobeys him, therefore...therefore...

Die WalküreDie Walküre

• He puts her to “sleep” surrounded by fireHe puts her to “sleep” surrounded by fire• But allows her to be woken by a heroBut allows her to be woken by a hero• In the next opera, this hero will be In the next opera, this hero will be

Siegfried, the son of S and S, Siegfried, the son of S and S, Brunnhilde’s half-nephew. He is a great Brunnhilde’s half-nephew. He is a great hero, and her loverhero, and her lover

Leifmotifs in Die WalküreLeifmotifs in Die Walküre

• In this excerpt you will hear the following In this excerpt you will hear the following leitmotifs:leitmotifs:

• SleepSleep• Wotan’s spear (which represents his Wotan’s spear (which represents his

authority.)authority.)• Loge, the god of fireLoge, the god of fire• Siefried, the hero who will wake up Siefried, the hero who will wake up

BrunnhildeBrunnhilde

French opera: CarmenFrench opera: Carmen

• By Georges Bizet (1838-75)By Georges Bizet (1838-75)• Example of opéra comique (not sung all Example of opéra comique (not sung all

the way through used spoken dialogue)the way through used spoken dialogue)• Later the spoken parts were replaced Later the spoken parts were replaced

with recitativewith recitative• An example of EXOTICISM-dealing with An example of EXOTICISM-dealing with

far away people and places in a far away people and places in a romanticized wayromanticized way

CarmenCarmen

• Considered very scandalous in its timeConsidered very scandalous in its time• Carmen is a gypsy (the “bad girl” Carmen is a gypsy (the “bad girl”

character type)character type)• Don José is a soldier who loves herDon José is a soldier who loves her• But he is engaged to Michaela (the “good But he is engaged to Michaela (the “good

girl” character type)girl” character type)• When Carmen takes up with another When Carmen takes up with another

man, D.J., kills herman, D.J., kills her

Musical ExoticismMusical Exoticism

• Bizet uses a Habanera, a Cuban dance, Bizet uses a Habanera, a Cuban dance, to depict Carmen’s “otherness”to depict Carmen’s “otherness”