Summary IEB MUSIC HISTORY NOTES (40% DISCOUNT!!!)

OPERA
DEFINITIONS:
 Recitative: a vocal line that imitates the rhythm and intonation of speech. This is used to move the
story along and provide context as opposed to the soloist singing an aria.
Recitative Secco/Dry Recitative: has cello or harpsichord accompaniment
Recitative Accompagnato: accompanied by an orchestra
 Aria: a song for solo voice accompanied by an orchestra
 Librettist: the person who writes the libretto (libretto is the text of an opera)
 Opera Seria: can be described as a more serious opera with virtuoso singers
 Opera Buffa: a comical opera – Don Giovanni is an opera buffa due to Leporello’s comical character.


1. PRESCRIBED WORK: DON GIOVANNI
 Opening Key: F Major
 Opera Buffa due to comical elements including Catalogue Aria and Leporello’s comical character
 Typical compositions of the classical period: paired woodwinds in the score, small orchestra (not a
large orchestra like those in the romantic period)


MUSICAL ELEMENTS PORTRAYING FEELINGS
 Mozart expresses Donna Anna’s rage/anger through dotted rhythms
 Tension between Don Giovanni and Donna Anna (bars 70 - 74) is created through: tremolo in the
violin parts, crescendos and rising melodies.
 A morbid atmosphere is created after the Commandatore’s death through the funeral march-like
rhythm, the slow tempo and the low pitch creating a feeling of foreboding.



DON GIOVANNI (BARITONE) Don Giovanni is a mezzi character (middle
character) as his character is not fully developed. He
imitates the singing style of other characters. He is
constantly changing between Leporello and Donna
Anna’s singing style which masks his own character
and adapts to those around him.
DONNA ANNA (SOPRANO) The daughter of the Commandatore. Don Giovanni
seduces Donna Anna creating the root of the tension
in the opera.
LEPORELLO (BASS) Leporello’s character makes the opera comical
allowing it to classify as an opera buffa. He is Don
Giovanni’s servant.
COMMANDATOR (BASS) The father of Donna Anna. Passes away in a battle
against Don Giovanni.

INTRODUCTION ANALYSIS
 Leporello is impatient and is pacing up and down outside The Commendatore’s palace.

,  Leporello’s patience is portrayed through the orchestra’s rhythm
 sudden fortes at the end of phrases also indicate impatience
 Modulation and crescendo as Donna Anna appears on stage
 Music becomes fast and agitated to portray Donna Anna’s panic
 The music is harmonically complex in comparison to the simple harmonies at the
beginning of the scene. Simple harmonies (Tonic – Dominant – Tonic) are used to portray
Leporello’s simple character.
 Morbid atmosphere as The Commendatore dies
 Orchestral descending chromatic lines
 March-like rhythm


MADAMINA ANALYSIS
 Madamina is a Catalogue Aria and these are typical in Opera Buffas. In a Catalogue Aria, one lists
things. In this case, it is the women that Don Giovanni has seduced that is being listed. The rhythm at
the start of this aria resembles a counting machine. Both the words of the music as well as the melodic
lines describe the types of women Don Giovanni has seduced.
 music is a gracious minuet – gracious blond women
 crescendo and rising melody – tall women
 patter technique used and words “la piccini” – little women




MUSICALS
First, the difference between Musicals and Operas…


MUSICAL OPERA
Recitative Spoken Dialogue
1600s 1920s
Italian (generally) English (generally)
No sound amplification Microphones
2 Acts 1 – 5 Acts
Arias are complex Simple, repetitive and catchy songs
Tells a story Tells a story

2. PRESCRIBED WORK: OLIVER!
 Based off the book Oliver Twist and was composed in 1959
 Composed by Lionel Bart


OLIVER TWIST (TREBLE) The main character who is a lonely boy in a
workhouse.
FAGIN (BARITONE) Criminal who tries to lure Oliver into his word.
THE ARTFUL DODGER (TREBLE) The smartest of Fagin’s pick-pocketers. He
introduces Oliver to Fagin.