Baroque

Question 1

Basso Continuo

Answer 1

an accompanying part that includes a bassline and harmonies, typically played on a keyboard instrument and with other instruments such as cello or lute

Question 2

Basso Ostinato

Answer 2

a type of variation form in which a bass line, or harmonic pattern is repeated as the basis of a piece underneath variations

Question 3

Sonata da Camera

Answer 3

a 17th-century genre of musical composition for one or more melody instruments and basso continuo. Made of several small pieces in the same mode or key that are suitable for dancing

Question 4

Sonata de Chiesa

Answer 4

a 17th-century genre of musical composition for one or more melody instruments and is regarded an antecedent of later forms of 18th century instrumental music

Question 5

Concerto

Answer 5

a musical composition for a solo instrument or instruments accompanied by an orchestra

Question 6

Concerto Grosso

Answer 6

a musical composition for a group of solo instruments accompanied by an orchestra

Question 7

Ritornello

Answer 7

a short instrumental refrain or interlude in a vocal work

Question 8

Tragédie en musique

Answer 8

a genre of French opera introduced by Jean-Baptiste Lully. Operas in this genre are usually based on stories from Classical mythology. The works’ atmospheres usually have an air of nobility and stateliness

Question 9

French Overture

Answer 9

The French overture is a musical form widely used in the Baroque period. Its basic formal division is into two parts, which are usually enclosed by double bars and repeat signs.

Question 10

Style brisé

Answer 10

a general term for irregular arpeggiated texture in instrumental music of the Baroque period

Question 11

Agrément

Answer 11

French term for ornament or embellishment. Often found in 17th century keyboard music

Question 12

Da capo aria

Answer 12

a musical form for Baroque arias sung by a soloist with the accompaniment of instruments, often a small orchestra

Question 13

Doctrine of affections

Answer 13

a theory in the aesthetics of painting, music, and theatre, widely used in the Baroque era- based on the idea that the passions could be represented by their outward visible or audible signs

Question 14

Opera seria

Answer 14

an opera (especially one of the 18th century in Italian) on a serious, usually classical or mythological theme

Question 15

Opera buffa

Answer 15

a comic opera (usually in Italian), especially one with characters drawn from everyday life