baroque terms

Question 1

overture

Answer 1

an orchestral piece that introduces an opera

Question 1

basso continuo

Answer 1

a chording instrument (organ, piano, harpsichord) and a melodic instrument (cello, violin, flute) playing the bass line

Question 2

french overture

Answer 2

two sections: a slow opening section featuring dotted rhythms and a fast imitative section

Question 3

recitative

Answer 3

a vocal style imitating the inflections of speech rather than using a tune

Question 4

aria

Answer 4

the song-like, tuneful solo vocal sections of an opera

Question 5

da capo form

Answer 5

meaning, from the head. it is a marking displayed on sheet music that when a performer sees it they know to return to the beginning

Question 6

oratorio

Answer 6

an opera-like work with an overture, arias and recitatives but using religious texts

Question 7

fugue

Answer 7

a contrapuntal composition beginning with a theme presented imitatively in 3 or 4 voices

Question 8

episode

Answer 8

the section of the fugue in which the subject in its entirety is not present

Question 9

prelude

Answer 9

a short improvisatory-type piece that introduces another piece or a group of pieces

Question 10

sonata

Answer 10

a piece of chamber music generally in several movements

Question 11

binary form

Answer 11

two sections each repeated (A A B B)

Question 12

concerto

Answer 12

a work for a soloist and an orchestra

Question 13

ritornello

Answer 13

a section of a concerto that consists of the main theme played by the main orchestra