Ch. 13 Vocal Music in the Classical Era

Chapter 13 Vocal Music in the Classical Era A History of Music in Western Culture, 4e 13-1 © 2014 Education, Inc. By Mark Evan Bonds Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 The Rise of Opera Buffa 1720s: a new style of opera emerged in Italy Many elements not found in opera seria Subject matter was humorous, not serious Libretto about everyday characters (not heroes, rulers, gods) Singers included basses, not castrati Gave more emphasis to ensemble singing (duets, trios, quartets) Avoided da capo arias Periodic phrase structure Origins lie in tradition of intermezzo A History of Music in Western Culture, 4e 13-2 © 2014 Education, Inc. By Mark Evan Bonds Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Opera Wars Opera buffa provoked controversy throughout Europe Debate raged with particular virulence in France War of the Buffoons (Guerre des Bouffons) ignited by debut of Pergolesi’s La serva padrona in Paris, 1752 Pitted partisans of King Louis XV (defenders of French culture) against those of Queen Marie (advocates of Italian style) A History of Music in Western Culture, 4e 13-3 © 2014 Education, Inc. By Mark Evan Bonds Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Gluck and the Reform of Opera Growing number of poets, composers, and critics maintained that opera seria’s showcasing of vocal virtuosity was an unnatural impediment to dramatic action Several composers set out to make opera seria more natural and dramatically coherent A History of Music in Western Culture, 4e 13-4 © 2014 Education, Inc. By Mark Evan Bonds Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Gluck and the Reform of Opera In preface to his opera Alceste (1769), Gluck spelled out basic principles behind his efforts to eliminate “abuses” that “disfigured” Italian opera: no da capo arias little or no opportunity for vocal improvisation no long melismas predominantly syllabic setting of text less repetition of text within an aria less recitative accompanied rather than secco recitative simpler, more flowing melodic lines overture linked to ensuing action more prominence for the chorus A History of Music in Western Culture, 4e 13-5 © 2014 Education, Inc. By Mark Evan Bonds Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Mozart and the Synthesis of Operatic Styles Operas are celebrated as his greatest achievements Created psychologically complex characters and synthesized and transcended boundaries of buffa, seria, and other operatic styles in four late operas: Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, Die Zauberflöte A History of Music in Western Culture, 4e 13-6 © 2014 Education, Inc. By Mark Evan Bonds Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Scene from Mozart’s Don Giovanni. The illustration shows Leporello beginning his “Catalogue Aria,” singing to Donna Elvira from the long list of Don Giovanni’s prior loves. A History of Music in Western Culture, 4e 13-7 © 2014 Education, Inc. By Mark Evan Bonds Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Sacred Music Almost every major composer of the Classical era wrote music for the church Court encouraged simpler, more chordal settings of liturgy Vatican tried to steer followers away from elaborate concert-style Masses on grounds they were overly secular Sacred music preserved more of tradition of strict counterpoint than was customary in theater or chamber A History of Music in Western Culture, 4e 13-8 © 2014 Education, Inc. By Mark Evan Bonds Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 An 18th-century ballad singer. The watercolor captures the ease and naturalness of public singing in an earlier age. The woman holds in her hands the words of the latest ballad. Onlookers stop to listen. A History of Music in Western Culture, 4e 13-9 © 2014 Education, Inc. By Mark Evan Bonds Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Song Song was quintessential domestic vocal genre Financially lucrative for composers and publishers Strophic and syllabic settings William Billings (1746–1800) was one of the first American-born composers to achieve international fame Largely self-taught Chester became an unofficial anthem of American Revolution A History of Music in Western Culture, 4e 13-10 © 2014 Education, Inc. By Mark Evan Bonds Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458