ROMANTIC OPERA and

Components of an Opera
Unit 4: Vocal Music of the Romantic Period

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 Table of contents

01 02
Romantic Opera Components of an
Opera
describe the background of describe the parts of the
romantic opera components of the opera

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 Romantic Opera
Opera became increasingly popular during the
Romantic period. It is a musical composition having
all or most of its text set to music with arias,
recitative, choruses, duets, trios, etc. sung to
orchestral accompaniment. The opera is usually
characterized by elaborate costumes, scenery and
choreography.

Romantische Opér (German for '"romantic opera"')

was a genre of early nineteenth-century German
opera,

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 Developed not from the German Singspiel of the
eighteenth-century but from the opéras comiques of the
French Revolution. It offered opportunities for an
increasingly important role for the orchestra, and greater
dramatic possibilities for reminiscence motifs - phrases
that are identified with a place, person or idea and which,
when re-used in a work, remind the listener of the place,
person or idea in question.

Carl Maria von Weber's “Der Freischütz” inaugurated

the genre, which increasingly became associated with a
distinctively German national style.

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 Components of an Opera
Libretto - the text of an opera. Librettist and the composer work closely together
to tell the story.  

Score - the book that the composer and librettist put together. The score has all
the musical notes, words and ideas to help the performers tell the story.
Often, there are operas with overtures, preludes, prologues, several acts,
finales and postludes. 

Recitative - Declamatory singing, used in the prose parts and dialogue of opera.
Different roles in operas are created taking into account different types of
voices. Each role requires a different type of singer, not only able to sing a
given vocal range but also with certain voice characteristics, color and
power. 

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 Aria – an air or solo singing part sung by a principal character. This song is what
the public will remember best when leaving the opera house. Properly and
well sung, a beautiful aria can bring an audience to its feet and decide the fate
of an entire opera

It is also important to know the types of voices of singers. This will serve
as a guide for singers on their choice of songs and vocal quality expected of a
singer or opera character.

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 Components of an Opera
For the Male Voice: 

1. Tenor- highest male voice 

2. Baritone- Middle male voice, lies

between Bass and Tenor voices. It is
the common male voice. 

3. Bass- lowest male voice 

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 For the Female Voice: 
 Soprano - highest female voice
 Coloratura - highest soprano voice

 Lyric- bright and full sound

 Dramatic - darker full sound

 Mezzo-Soprano - most common

female voice; strong middle voice,
tone is darker or deeper than the
soprano

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 For the Female Voice:
 Contralto - lowest female voice and
most unique among female
 Duet, trio, and other small ensemble

 Chorus

 Orchestra
 Acts - main divisions of an opera
 Scene - setting or place

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 Composers like Verdi, Puccini and Wagner saw the
opportunity to explore ways to develop the vocal power of a
singer. Greater range of tone color, dynamics and pitch were
employed.

Dynamics and vocal embellishments were used to further

affect the way singers sing. Some musical terms are used like:

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 • A Capella - one or more singers performing without instrumental accompaniment.

• Cantabile - In a singing style. Cantabile, an Italian word, means literally "singable" or "songlike". In
instrumental music, it is a particular style of playing designed to imitate the human voice.

• Capo - Head, the beginning. Da Capo, abbreviated D.C., literally means "take it from the top", or go
back to the beginning of the piece and repeat.

• Coda - closing section appended to a movement or song.

• Dolce – sweetly, soft, & smooth. used as a direction in music.

• Falsetto - a weaker and more airy voice usually in the higher pitch ranges.

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 • Glissando - sliding quickly between 2 notes. Glissando is a musical 'slide'. The term 'glissado' comes
from the French glissez, which literally means 'to slide'. The performer will slide from one pitch to
the next.

• Passagio - parts of a singing voice where register transitions occur.

• Rubato - slight speeding up or slowing down of the tempo of a piece at the discretion of the soloist.

• Tessitura - the most comfortable singing range of a singer.

• Vibrato - rapidly repeated slight pitch variation during a sustained note, to give a richer & more
varied sound.

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