Msc Test 2 Terms

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Orfeo

Back 1

Orfeo - was an opera about Greek mythology from the Baroque period composed by Monterverdi.

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Awake, A Voice Is Calling

Back 2

Awake, A Voice Is Calling - A religious cantata written by J.S. Bach in 1731.

Front 3

Messiah

Back 3

Messiah - was an oratorio from the late Baroque period composed by Handel and contained pastoral aria.

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Brandenburg Concertos

Back 4

Brandenburg Concertos - Set of six concerti grossi composed by J.S. Bach between 1711 & 1720.

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Middle Ages

Back 5

Middle Ages- was from 1476- 1475 where Christianity dominated, and the period where Gregorian Chant was created and composed by Hildegard.

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Renaissance

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Renaissance- was from 1450-1600; humanism was vitally part of the era and it's when the Counter-Reformation occurred.

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Baroque

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Baroque - was from 1600-1750, music was more busy and secular and composers moved beyond religion to royalty get paid.

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Hildegard

Back 8

Hildegard - was a nun during the Middle Ages who composed “O Greenest Branch”. This was in Gregorian Chant.

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Perotinus

Back 9

Perotinus- was a composer from the Middle Ages who composed four-voice organum.

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Josquin

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Josquin- was a composer from the Renaissance who composed motets like “Ave Maria” and created imitative polyphony.

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Luther

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Luther- was a monk from the Renassiance who wrote the 95 theses and started the Protestant Reformation.

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Council of Trent

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The Council of Trent- was formed during the Renaissance and it was a part of the Counter Reformation which was made up of cardinals and bishops who undertook reformation of the Roman Catholic Church.

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Palestrina

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Palestrina- was a composer from Renaissance period who composed " Sanctus" and used sacred polyphony and also became known as “the savior of church music”.

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Monteverdi

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Monterverdi- was a composer from the Baroque period who composed operas like “Orfeo”.

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Vivaldi

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Vivaldi- was a composer from the Baroque period who composed Baroque concertos like “Four Seasons”.

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J.S. Bach

Back 16

Bach- was a composer from the Baroque period who composed cantatas like “Awake, A voice is calling”

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Handel

Back 17

Handel- was a composer from the late Baroque period who composed oratorios like “Messiah”.

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Pope Gregory

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Pope Gregory- was from the Middle Ages who decided that certain chants should be sung on certain days of the liturgical year.

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ESSAY 1: Trace the biographies of some typical composers

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A typical composer during the Middle Age period would usually be a member of the Church, such as a nun or monk. These composers did not look to make a profit or gain game, the main motivation was for worship purposes. A form of composition that arose in this time period was Gregorian chant. The Gregorian chant had a uniform monochromatic sound, which was usually unaccompanied. The composition would be monophonic. The Gregorian chant was based on Latin sacred texts. The venue would be a monastery or a chapel. A composer during this time was Hildegard.

During the Renaissance composers had begun to see themselves as independent artist. In other words lay people would strive to be composers. The composers during this time had tried to make a name for them and make a profit. Money and fame had gained an importance in that time period. A form of composition that arose in this time period was the motet. This was composition for a choir that was usually about setting a Latin text on a sacred object. Imitation was introduced in this time period. Most motets were sung a cappella. A famous composer of motet is Josquin. The venue would be a church or a chapel.

During the Baroque period was similar to the Renaissance period in that composers were lay people, but now some forms of compositions like the opera were also secular. The opera would be a dramatic work set to music that requires costumes, dancers/singers, costumes, scenery, and other things. The opera is only sung. These compositions would include arias and recitatives. The opera was usually expensive. The opera was also mainly sung in Italian. The venue would likely be a theatre or opera house. The composers who wrote operas had written to make a profit.

Would this be a good essay? Also am I missing something or what else could i add?

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ESSAY 2: Compare and contrasts opera, cantata and oratorio.

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Opera is a work that requires union of music drama, costumes, scenery, and singers/Dancers. To fill these requirements the cost of an opera was very expensive. The opera had a chorus but it wasn’t as important as it was for cantatas and oratorios. The opera was also usually 2-3 hours long like the oratorio. Opera tended to be secular. All the lines or text of the opera was called the libretto. In the Orfeo by Monteverdi the dramatic event portrayed was Greek mythology in which Orfeo’s wife is killed, and he tries to bring her back to life, however he fails. Recitative is used is used to communicate the plot to the audience. The aria would show how the characters in the play feel about the events in the opera.


Cantata is a much shorter work that usually lasts 8 to 15 minutes. The cantata like the opera and oratorio contains arias and recitative. Cantatas tend to be about religion and meant for worship. A difference between the cantata and the opera is that no scenery and costumes. The cantata like the oratorio had made more use of the chorus than the opera. The cantata also had a smaller amount of people and accompaniment compared to the opera and oratorio. In the cantata “Awake, A Voice is Calling” by Bach focuses on a Christ being a groom. This illustrates an important religious message. The chorus plays a structural role in the cantata.


Oratorio meant something that is sung in a oratory, however it was mostly sung in theatres and halls. Oratorios had focused on dramatic events like the opera, but these events would be usually religious like in the cantata. The chorus would play an important role in commenting on the actions that transpired, which is similar to the cantata. Oratorios were often sung in English. The oratorio was different from the cantata in that it was usually 2-3 hours long like the opera. Handel had written a famous oratorio called the cantata, which focuses on dramatic religious events such as the incarnation, passion and resurrection, and other events. The use of aria and recitative is also present.
Would this be a good essay? Also is there anything else that i should add?
For the opera the chorus wasn't important, it was mainly seen in the background, not a major part. The aria would communicate the plot to the audience and move the opera along, and recitative would focus on a specific action. Also the opera was usually sung in Italian.

The cantata was also usually in Italian. The aria and recitative would mostly include biblical excerpts. The chorus in the cantata would sing traditional hymns.

The Oratorio was often sung in English. The chorus was active in oratorios speaking directly to the audience making them a part of the drama. The aria would progress the oratorio, for example in the Messiah, the movements of the shepherds. The recitative would focus on specific events.

Would this be a good addition to the parts that i was missing before?