PurcellPurcellDido and aeneasDido and aeneas

an operaan opera

How is it evident that Dido and How is it evident that Dido and Aeneas was written in the style Aeneas was written in the style

suitable for English Masque theatre?suitable for English Masque theatre?

By. Anika Brand and norisuke iwahashi

What is an english masqueWhat is an english masque

A form of entertainment, involving A form of entertainment, involving costumescostumes, , sceneryscenery, , dancesdances, , musicmusic and and poetrypoetry, that flourished in , that flourished in EnglandEngland in in TudorTudor and and Stuart timesStuart times (esp. 1601-31). (esp. 1601-31).

The subject matter was usually The subject matter was usually mythologicalmythological, , allegoricalallegorical, or , or heroicheroic..

Its musical characteristics:Its musical characteristics: consists of consists of many dancesmany dances.. has has episodic structureepisodic structure.. affectation of keyaffectation of key is evident. is evident. sectionalisation of harmonysectionalisation of harmony.. musical declamentationmusical declamentation..

ContentContent MythologicalMythological

The characters are from The characters are from Greek mythologyGreek mythology. The account of . The account of the story is given by the Roman poet the story is given by the Roman poet VirgilVirgil in his in his Aeneid. Aeneid.

Speech rhythmsSpeech rhythms Syllabic and melithmaticSyllabic and melithmatic Long and short vowelsLong and short vowels

Word paintingsWord paintings ‘‘storm’, ‘fierce’ and ‘valourstorm’, ‘fierce’ and ‘valour’’(‘(‘Whence could so much Whence could so much

virtue springvirtue spring’)’)

Declamentation is tied together harmonically Declamentation is tied together harmonically tonal tonal sense and reflects dramatic situation.sense and reflects dramatic situation.

Musical declamentationMusical declamentation

structurestructure The opera is in an The opera is in an episodic structureepisodic structure, as a typical , as a typical

English Masque pieceEnglish Masque piece i.e. i.e. consists of many pieces, consists of many pieces, which each can function as an individual complete which each can function as an individual complete piece.piece.

DancesDances (ballet) are placed in between the beginning (ballet) are placed in between the beginning and the end of acts (More a theatrical purpose).and the end of acts (More a theatrical purpose).e.g. The Triumphing Dancee.g. The Triumphing Dance in Act I, in Act I, Echo Dance of FuriesEcho Dance of Furies in Act II, scene i in Act II, scene i

Many of Purcell’s dances follow the features of Many of Purcell’s dances follow the features of French French dances which are especially significant in dances which are especially significant in LullyLully’s works. The features of Lullian dances are: ’s works. The features of Lullian dances are: slow temposlow tempo, , dotted rhythmdotted rhythm and and homophonic texturehomophonic texture..

Harmony & key signatureHarmony & key signature

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: Whence could so much virtue springWhence could so much virtue spring..Harmonically: the piece originally starts from C Harmonically: the piece originally starts from C

minor, then resolutes into more G Major (b.2minor, then resolutes into more G Major (b.233, , p94. Harris). p94. Harris). ‘‘Anchies’ valour’ (b.4Anchies’ valour’ (b.422-5-522) is in C ) is in C Major, then F Major in ‘Venus’ charms, how soft’ Major, then F Major in ‘Venus’ charms, how soft’ (b.5(b.544-6).-6).

i.e.i.e. frequent modulationsfrequent modulations and and accidentals accidentals occur. occur.But the C But the C harmony dominatesharmony dominates throughout. throughout.These features show the song is a carefully and These features show the song is a carefully and

strictly measured strictly measured declamatory songdeclamatory song..

BIBLIOGRAPHYBIBLIOGRAPHYHarris, Ellen T. Harris, Ellen T. Henry Purcell’s DIDO and Henry Purcell’s DIDO and

AENEASAENEAS. . Clarendon Paperbacks 1987. UK.Clarendon Paperbacks 1987. UK.Purcell, Henry. Edited by Price, Curtis. Purcell, Henry. Edited by Price, Curtis. Dido Dido

and Aeneas, An Operaand Aeneas, An Opera. Norton Critical Scores . Norton Critical Scores 1986. USA.1986. USA.

Green, Alison. Green, Alison. Dress and Décor: The Baroque Dress and Décor: The Baroque and Rococo Style – Summary.and Rococo Style – Summary. (12/02/09; (12/02/09; http://http://www.theatre.ubc.ca/dress_decor/baroque_rocowww.theatre.ubc.ca/dress_decor/baroque_rococo_summary.htmco_summary.htm) )