WORLD OF OPERA

Cards (7)

  • vocal music in this period require singers to perform a greater range of tone color, dynamics, and pitch.
    because of this, opera became an important source of musical expressions.
  • opera - a musical composition having all or most of its text set music with aria, recitative, chorus, duet, and trio sang to the orchestra accompaniment.
  • elements of opera
    1. acting
    2. scenery
    3. costumes
    4. dancing
  • bel canto technique - literally means beautiful singing; the space in your mouth and throat needs to be wide open
  • components of an opera
    1. libretto - the text of an opera
    • librettist - person who writes librettos
    • composers - person who writes the music
    • composers and librettist work closely together during the development of musical piece
    1. score - the book that the composer and librettist put together
    • has all the musical notes, words, and ideas to help the performers tell the story
    1. recitative - declamatory singing, used in the prose parts and dialogue of opera
    2. aria - an air or solo singing part sung by a principal character
    • gives the character a chance to share their thoughts and emotions with the audience
  • male voice classifications:
    • tenor - highest
    • baritone - middle, common
    • bass - lowest
  • female voice classifications:
    • soprano - highest
    1. coloratura - highest soprano
    2. lyric - bright and full
    3. dramatic - darker full
    • mezzo-soprano - most common, strong middle, tone is deeper than soprano
    • contralto - lowest and most unique