Vocal Music

By Naiara Román and

José Romero
 Table of contents

Secular Vocal Music Secular Vocal Music

01 Classical Opera vs 02 Main authors and titles.
Baroque Opera

Religious Vocal Music Religious Vocal Music

03 Misa, Oratorio. 04 Main authors and titles.
01 Secular Vocal Music
Classical Opera
Baroque Opera
 Classical Opera
- 1750-1820
- Dramatic changes and contrast.
- Real expressions of feelings is valued.
- It’s balanced, suggests order and unity.
- More buffa works.
- Reform of the opera: Authenticity of the
argument, priority to the Libretto and
music, reduces melismas.
- Recitatives are replaced by spoken
dialogue, use of dialects.
Baroque Opera
- 1600-1750
- Complex, decorated instrumentation.
- It’s important that it is surprising,
spectacular and ornate.
- Comic operas→ vulgar audience.
- Serious opera: Dominated by singers.
- Buffa opera: Popular theme, few
characters, small orquesta.
02 Secular Vocal Music
Main authors and titles
 Main authors and titles

Christoph Willibald Gluck, (1714-1787) was a German composer. He

completely reformed the opera by:
- Eliminating da capo arias.
- Replacing the recitatives with harpsichord→ Recitatives
………….. accompanied by the orchestra.
- Get rid of the castrati.
- Give greater relevance to the plot of the works.
- Rise the overture, ballet, and chorus as integral parts of his operas.
- “Orpheus and Eurydice”.
Main authors and titles

“Orpheus and Eurydice” is Gluck's first "reform" opera. The

piece premiered in Vienna in October 1762.
- It is a three-act opera based on the myth of Orpheus.
- It belongs to the theatrical genre.
- Uses dances and choirs.
- Gluck expresses his intention to reform opera, trying to
make poetry, language and dramatic action reflect the
simplicity and power of Greek tragedy.
 Main authors and titles

Mozart (1756-1791) was an

- Earliest childhood: prodigious ability - Clarity, balance and transparency are the
excellent fortepianist,
in mastering keyboard instruments hallmarks of his work.
organist, violinist and
and the violin. - Buffa opera: The Marriage of Figaro, Don
conductor, master of
- 5 years: Composed musical works. Giovanni and Così fan tutte.
Classicism.
- 17 years: Was hired as a musician
Mozart's work includes more - Serious opera.
at the court of Salzburg.
than six hundred creations, - The singspiel: The Magic Flute.
- Last years: He composed many of
most of them recognized as
his best-known symphonies, - In his later operas he used small changes in
masterpieces of symphonic
concertos, and operas. instrumentation, orchestral texture, and timbre.
music.
 Main authors and titles

The Marriage of Figaro Don Giovanni Così fan tutte

- Opera buffa. - Humorous drama. - Humorous drama.
- Four acts. - Two acts. - Two acts.
- Vienna→ May 1786. - Prague→ October 1787. - Vienna→ January 1790.
Main authors and titles

The Magic Flute is an opera in two acts by Mozart with a

German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder.
- Is in the form of a Singspiel: Included both singing and
…. spoken dialogue.
- Vienna→ September 1791.
- Instruments: wind, string, timpani, choir.
03 Religious Vocal Music
Misa, Oratorio
 Misa

The Misa/Mass, a sacred musical Masses may be acappella or To be considered

genre, is a choral composition accompanied by musical complete, the
that moves the music to fixed instruments, up to and musical form must
including a full orchestra. include the following
sections of the liturgy. six sections:

Most masses are

I. Kyrie IV. Sanctus
parts of the liturgy
in Latin, the II. Gloria V. Benedictus
traditional language
of the Catholic III. Credo VI. Agnus Dei
Church.
 Oratorio

The oratorio is a dramatic musical Some of the religious themes are

genre without staging, costumes, or stories from the Bible or the
sets. Usually composed for solo Gospel, from the life of Jesus or
voices, choir and symphony orchestra, from the lives of saints, etc.
sometimes with a narrator

Some of the characteristics of an Unlike the opera, the

oratorio are: oratorio is performed
- A general structure in three as a concert, without
parts. stage performance:
- The presence of a narrator. its plot is narrated
- The alternation between the from the texts and
sung parts of arias and music.
recitatives.
04 Religious Vocal Music
Main authors and titles.
 Main authors and titles
Haydn: Stabat Mater

Stabat Mater ("Estaba la Madre”) is a

Joseph Haydn is one of
medieval poem dating from the 13th
the greatest century, of Franciscan origin.
representatives of
classicism, as well as
being known as the It is one of the literary
"father of the compositions that has been set
symphony" and the to music the most times. Nearly
"father of the string 200 composers from different
quartet" thanks to his eras, genres and musical styles
important contributions have written works on this text,
to both genres. for example Giovanni Battista or
Gioachino Rossini.
It represents the
Virgin, standing,
to the right of
the crucified
Christ, while the
apostle John,
also standing, is
represented to
the left of Christ.
CREDITS: This presentation
template was created by
Slidesgo, including icons by
Flaticon, and infographics &
Reproducing
imagesthe evangelical scene during
by Freepik
which Christ pronounced the third of the
"seven words":
Woman, here is your son... Here is your
mother.
 Main authors and titles
Mozart: Requiem Mass

It is the last mass written by

The Requiem Mass is a mass
Mozart, who died in 1791,
by Wolfgang Amadeus
before it was finished.
Mozart, based on the Latin
texts for the requiem, that is,
the Catholic His wife looked for a
liturgical act composer to finish the work,
Süssmayr, his disciple. He
celebrated
was bribed not to reveal his
after the death
participation in the
of a person. composition of the Requiem,
because the success of its
premiere could be tarnished if
the truth was discovered.
Main authors and titles
Beethoven: Misa Solemnis

Ludwig van
Beethoven is
considered one of the
most important
composers in the
history of music and
his legacy has
decisively influenced
the subsequent The Missa Solemnis was premiered on
May 1824 in Saint Petersburg.
evolution of this art.
It is generally considered one of the
composer's greatest achievements.
Thank you!
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