FIRST NIGHTS, Section 2
Important Terminology--to supplement Glossary and L’Orfeo “Terms&Concepts” on web
[texture: homophonic, polyphonic, monophonic; melody and accompaniment]
Beat, Rhythm, Meter, Measure and Tempo
beat – regular pulse of music against which the meter and rhythms are organized
rhythm – pattern created by timing and duration of musical events, e.g. short and long syllables in Vi
Ricorda.
meter – organization of beats into groups of two (duple), three (triple), or both (compound)
measure – a metered area enclosed by bar lines (somewhat confusing at beginning of act ii) tempo – how
fast the beats pass in real-time (varies greatly between recordings)
Pitch, Range, Register, Timbre
pitch – an isolated, distinct musical sound that can be sung and/or played by a melodic instrument (the
sound of one key on the piano)
range – difference between highest and lowest pitches in a musical selection or
on a musical instrument
c. register – how high or low an instrument is currently playing relative to its
range, or how or low something is relative to other instruments/sections
timbre – tone quality distinguishing one instrument from another, or one vocal/instrumental technique
from another
(More) Things to listen for in an instrumental/vocal line
chromaticism – a chromatic line (or measure, etc.) includes a significant amount of movement by halfsteps (not half notes!), i.e., the smallest distance between two pitches in many traditions, including
“Western classical” music
ornament – a decoration, often fast(er), of the fundamental pitches in a melodic line
dissonance vs. consonance – does the pitch or do the pitches blend “pleasantly” with the
accompaniment/other instruments’ pitches (consonance) or do they seem to clash (dissonance)?
melismatic/including runs? – does it have a bunch of pitches over one syllable (melisma), or fast (as in
difficult, not changing tempo) instrumental passages (runs)?
articulation of pitches – legato (smoothly connected)? staccato (crisp and very short)? detached or semidetached (something in between) ? heavily accented (suddenly loud)? weak/indistinct?
Ensembles, Instruments, Voices
a. Orfeo instruments : basso continuo (continuo) instruments, solo instruments, others
b. instrumental classifications i. woodwinds ii. brass iii. strings iv. percussion
c. voices/chorus – a capella or accompanied
soprano, alto, tenor, bass
Aria (song; tends to have “a tune”) versus Recitative (doesn’t tend to stick in your head)
TK: “if spoken text is sung, how can singing be represented?”
a. aria – example: Vi ricorda, which is:
i. metric
ii. strophic
iii. ritornellos appear between verses
b. recitative – example: Ahi! Caso Acerbo
i. no set meter
ii. declamatory style of singing
iii. imitates rhythms of natural speech
Some things to ponder with regard to Orfeo…
What might a courtier in Mantua have liked about Orfeo?
a. familiar musical forms
i. madrigal (and madrigalisms)
ii. solo songs
iii. instrumental dances
b. familiar theatrical forms
i. modern, humanistic poetry
ii. classical Greek theatrical devices
iii. well-known myth
c. daring “new” operatic format; recitative
d. virtuoso soloists (mainly the singers)
Orfeo instruments:
Gravicembalo
Contrabasso de viola
Viola da brazzo
Arpa doppia
Violino piccolo
Chitarrone
harpsichord; keyboard instrument with plucked strings, plays continuo
double bass viol; low stringed instrument, close to the cello
close to the modern violin
double harp
small violin with a high sound
theorbo-like plucked instrument, plays basso continuo
Organo di legno
small organ with wooden pipes
Basso da gamba
bass viol; low stringed instrument, plays basso continuo
Trombone
Regal
Cornetto
trombone; brass instrument
very small reed organ with a buzzy sound
cornett;wind instrument with a high piercing sound,NOT a modern cornet
Flautino
sopranino recorder; small flute
Clarino
trumpet, high sound
Tromba sordina
muted trumpet
ASSIGNMENT: 1.Worksheet, over e-mail and on the section site, which you may return by e-mail. 2.
Study the COMPLETE Orfeo listening guide (new; this is how you access the entire recording) on the
website, in addition to the other on-line Orfeo material.