how many acts does L'Orfeo have?
5 acts and a prologue
when/where was it first preformed
in Mantua (1607) for the marriage of Catherine Medici and the Prince of France
who wrote the music?
Claudio Monteverdi
Who wrote the Libretto?
Alessandro Striggio
what is different about the overture?
it is a fanfaire to announce the show but is not musically related to the rest of the opera
what is the overture for L'Orfeo
its is the same piece played 3 times
what is the introduction of an opera called?
the prologue
who introduces the opera?
the character of Music introduces with 5 stanza separated by refrain
ensemble vs. chorus
a chorus has many voices on each part whereas in an ensemble there is only one voice for each part-duet id the smallest ensemble
omophony:
all voices move together in parallel
counter point:
one voice, others join in
why is there a lowing of voice parts?
usually to convey tragedy, sadness, or hell
Madrigalsim:
raising and lowering of voice part to convey
omophony:
all voices move together in parallel
counter point:
one voice, others join in
why is Charon's voice doubled by the organ?
this technique was used to make his bass voice more powerful/terrifying
what are bass voices used for?
characters of the underworld or characters who are wise
what is an open number?
a aria that is interrupted by another character.
there is only one in the opera and it is Orfeo's echo that interrupts him
why was the ending changed and what happens?
it was changed because of the occasion...Apollo comes down to help Orfeo
Orfeo's second opera is the most popular (Possente Spirito)
there are 2 different versions- 1 w/ and 1 w/o embellishment for skilled and unskilled performers
in Orfeo's famous aria what is the nod to Dante?
there are 3 lines for each stanza except for the 5th which has 4 lines
how many stanzas does Orfeo's famous aria have
5 stanzas
what kind of prologue does L'Orfeo have?
Recitar Cantando
why is there a lowing of voice parts?
usually to convey tragedy, sadness, or hell
Madrigalsim:
raising and lowering of voice part to convey
what doe it signify when the brass is used?
Orfeo is moving between worlds, the 2nd time is when he is going down to hell
who is the 2nd allegorical character?
hope- reference to Dante's inferno (leave hope, all who enter)
omophony:
all voices move together in parallel
counter point:
one voice, others join in
why is there a lowing of voice parts?
usually to convey tragedy, sadness, or hell
Madrigalsim:
raising and lowering of voice part to convey
omophony:
all voices move together in parallel
counter point:
one voice, others join in
