Evolution of Opera & Vocal Music

Recall where the origins of Choirs are from…

Characteristics of Gregorian Chant

•Monophonic – melody, no harmony •Free meter •Sung in Latin•Words taken from Bible verse•Therefore also called “Sung Bible” • Use of Neume notes (squiggels)

Monophonic  the simplest of textures, consisting of melody without accompanying harmony. This

may be realized as just one note at a time, or with

the same note duplicated at the octave (such as often

when men and women sing together). 

Things changed slow back then…

• The sound of music stayed close to its Gregorian roots for nearly 700 years. Although the subject matter and focus of the music changed little, the monophonic nature of Gregorian Chants did give way to polyphony, first with a row of young boys, then several rows in the choirs, then the composer Perotin’s polyphonic 3-part choral pieces, and finally Cassandra of Constantinople’s experiments with quick changes and multi-timbre voices.

• Beginning around the year 1000, secular music began to find a more stable foothold in Catholic Europe. Folk stories and songs began to mesh to create a tradition of musical story-telling.

TROUBADOUR

was a composer and performer of lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages

(1100–1350)Their praise of the

ideal of physical love & women stood in direct contrast to Christian morality

By the Renaissance Secular Vocal music was sky-rocketing

• The Madrigal mixed words from poetry, rich, expressive polyphonic music, and was sung in the native language

Pop Music 1,000 years ago?!?

• After the popularity of the Madrigal, secular vocal options began to expand. Secular music then usually reflected popular, traditional folk songs and themes. In many ways it was the very first Pop Music!!

• The rise in this type of music form that blended voice, music, and drama led to the development of basic opera. As opera gained popularity and was supported by the nobility, more composers began to create more and more complex productions mixing stage drama and music.

Monteverdi 1st Successful Opera Composer

• Madrigal Musician and Composer, Monteverdi was not the very first composer of Opera, but his

transition from writing Madrigals into writing full operas is important because his operas became the

turning point in which opera became wildly popular!! Madrigals were a type of “Pop Music” during the

Renaissance, so it was an easy transition for people then to accept the type of singing used in opera. The music in opera is supporting the main purpose of the

opera, which is the drama!

Laaa, laaaa, loooo, laaaaSiiinging opera in my native Language is soooooo Aweeesomeee & accessible!Let me tell you all about it…

Monteverdi’s “Orfeo” was a BIG hit with the public in 1607!

Impact of OperaOpera Blended Classical Music Forms, Tradition Drama, and Vocal & Choral Music to create a “complete” experience

It draws its roots from sacred plays performed on Holy Days (Holidays) used to entertain the people. After the Protestant Reformation the range of non-religious music (Secular music) expanded incredibly fast!

Because it was sung in the language of the intended audience(Italian Seria, Buffa, German Singspiel) the stories often reflected tradition motifs, and drew content from folk stories, culture, and plays from the country.

Opera began a long-standing tradition into what we now know as Musicals.

During the Protestant ReformationMartin Luther changed 3 things in Sacred Music

1. He switched the language of Mass as well as Hymns to be in the language of the audience.

2. Choral singing began its tradition – “Choral” singing originally meant hymns & sacred music included the CONGREGATION.

3. Hymns began to use music from regional Folk Music to create a more accessible format for congregations. It also allowed Choral singing (singing including CONGREGATION) to feel more natural and enjoyable to Christians who had always known Hymns to be in Latin and traditional sacred music backing.

Italian Opera SeriaOpera Seria was based on subject matter that was “seria”ous• Opera seria had to return to

basics • All elements must be

subservient to the overriding drama• Strove to achieve simplicity• Orfeo ed Euridice (1762)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1B85UQT4AY

Italian Opera BuffaOpera Buffa focused on life-like situations, and usually incorporated comical situations.• Was sung in a language of the audience.• Was based on daily life situations.• Watch segment 10:

http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=722&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=Vienna&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=#• Presence of buffo – a bass voice character.• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9gyecxdyhI

• Examples• W. A. Mozart, “Marriage of Figaro” (1786)• G. Rossini, “The Barber of Seville” (1816)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qHZkkgowdY

German SingspielSpoken dialogue alternated with ensembles, songs, ballads, and arias. This was the first example of how modern musicals are sung.

Examples:• W. A. Mozart, “The Abduction from the Seraglio” (1782)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw84smtNE1QWatch segments 5 and 16:http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=11865&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=The%20Abduction%20from%20the%20Seraglio:%20Mozart%20in%20Turkey&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=#

• W. A. Mozart, “The Magic Flute” (1791)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwSK_wZX8Uchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqBwe9BCj4A

Opera Sacred Forms

• Opera composers also relied on and revived Sacred Vocal & Choral traditions.• Mass• W. A. Mozart, “Great Mass in C Minor” (1783)

• Requiem Mass—a Mass for the Dead• W. A. Mozart, “Requiem” (1791)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia8ceqIDSJw

• Oratorio• J. Haydn, “The Creation” (1798)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S03cwGuw43s

Opera’s Extreme Costuming and Sets

• Beginning with Italian Opera Seria, due to the focus on the over-riding drama, set design and costuming begins to become highly stylized and.

• Composers over time begin to employ or request/demand well known designers

• Extreme cost of Opera production pushes Opera further outside normal production budgets and towards patronage by nobility.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart(1756–1791)• Was competent on

keyboard and violin and composed at the age of five.• One of Viennese

Classicist.• Composed over 600

works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of genres.

Major Compositions

• Operas: • “Lucio Silla,” “The Marriage of Figaro,” “Don Giovanni,” “The

Magic Flute,” and others • Vocal: • Requiem, Oratories, and Cantatas

• For Orchestra: • Symphonies, Serenades, and Divertimentos

• Concertos For Different Instruments and Orchestra:• More that 30 for Piano and Orchestra• 5 for Violin and Orchestra• 4 for Horn and Orchestra

• Chamber Music: • 6 String Quintets, more that 20 String Quartets, more than 30

Sonatas for Violin and Piano, Trios, Variations, Minuets, Rondos, Fantasias, and many other works

Early Life• Father Leopold Mozart

was a musician and an experienced violin teacher.• Sister Nannerl was a

pianist and the family made several European journeys in which children performed as prodigies.

Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg, Austria

The Paris Journey (1777–78), Vienna

• Visited Augsburg, Mannheim, Paris, and Munich.• Settled in Vienna as a freelance performer and composer.• Married Constanze Weber in 1782. Had six children, two

of whom survived infancy.• Became a Freemason in 1784.• Composed operas.• In 1787 obtained a part-time post of chamber composer

under aristocratic patronage of Emperor Joseph II.

Later Years•Mozart’s financial circumstances worsened.• Composed last three symphonies and operas.• Became ill while in Prague for the premiere of

his opera “La clemenza di Tito.”•Was mentally occupied with the task of

finishing Requiem.• Watch segment 11:

http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=722&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=Vienna&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=#

• The cause of Mozart’s death is uncertain.•Was buried in a common grave.

BEST way to understand Operais to go experience Opera! Bravo…!

Local Opera Companies thrive all around the country!

Video Assignment

Please watch this video and take notes. You will be asked to reflect on Mozart’s life and legacy using this knowledge.

http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=29999&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=Wolfgang%20Amadeus%20Mozart&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=

Optional Video Assignments

http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=42108&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=Le%20Nozze%20di%20Figaro-From%20the%20Royal%20Opera%20House&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia8ceqIDSJw

http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=11865&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=The%20Abduction%20from%20the%20Seraglio:%20Mozart%20in%20Turkey&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=#

http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=722&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=Vienna&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=#

Suggested Readings:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballad_opera• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opéra_comique• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozart