Types of opera

Recitative

A section in the opera where the plot is moving forward with dialogue. Secco means dry. Secco recitative is fairly speech-like and is accompanied by sparse chords. Accompanied recitative is accompanied with the orchestra

Aria

• Song within an opera
• Focusing on their emotions
• Solo
• Highly melodic
• Repetitive lyrics

Ensemble

• 2-4 singers
• Similar to an aria

Chorus

• A musical number for a large group of singers (5+)
• Similar to an aria

Castrati

• Boys who were castrated before puberty to prevent their voice from dropping
• A castrato sounded almost exactly like a female soprano

Baroque Forms

Ritornello

• "This music will return again"
• The initial musical material is presented by a group of instrumentalists
• Then a solo happens
• Then at least part of the first part of the music reappears in the group
• The piece alternates between the solo and the ritornello
• Each solo can be different

Fugue

• Candy bars

Da Capo Aria form

• DC
• Only in Aria's
• ABA' (the last A section is a little different)

French Overture

• Start of an opera, suite
• Overture - found before the start of another piece
• Slow w/ dotted rhythms, followed by faster imitative polyphony