After Euridice Claudio Monteverdi 1567 1643 1567 Born

After Euridice

Claudio Monteverdi (1567 -1643) 1567 -Born in Cremona 1590 -Worked in Mantua (Gonzaga family) 1613 -Choirmaster at St. Mark’s in Venice Madrigals (9 books/250 total) – 5 Books in Renaissance Style » Polyphonic Styles – 4 Books in “Baroque” Style (NAWM 53) » Solo voice » Basso Continuo Operas (3)

Claudio Monteverdi L’Orfeo (1607) – Patterned after Florentine Camerata but believed his aims could be realized traditionally, with Polyphony – New Innovations NAWM 54 (p. 289) More continuity of Recitative – longer lines – tonal organization Lyricism at key moments Solo Airs Duets Ensembles Dances – Contrast Recitatives Organized Scenes Large Varied Orchestra – 40 Players

After Orfeo

After Orfeo Florence and Mantua – Opera not really very popular Rome – 1620’s and 30’s – No central court – Wealthy churchmen Lavish entertainment – Pope Urban VIII (r. 1623 -44) Appointed nephews who sponsored opera Libretti on lives of Saints – By 1640 Opera is entirely changed

Opera After 1640 Primarily Entertainment Comic Elements Introduced Recitative and Aria Separate More Use of Chorus Drama no longer #1 – Display for Voices Spread to other Other Places – Venice » L’incoronazione di Poppea (NAMW 55) » Orontea (NAWM 56) – Naples

Venetian Opera From Rome in 1637 – Ferrari and Manelli – Admitted a paying public – Small Scale Popular Tourist Destination – Carnival Season (6 -10 weeks after Christmas) Nine Theaters 150 Performances by 1678 Themes – Mythological – Historic (Ancient Roman)

Vocal Chamber Music Opera not the norm. (except in Venice) New Monodic Idioms with Basso Continuo Strophic Aria – Good for Poetry Standard formulas and patterns – – – Romanesca Chaccone Passacaglia Concertato (NAWM 56) – piece for voice with instruments » Independent parts Cantata (NAWM 57) » “To be Sung”

Summary Solo Singing most important – Lots of forms, styles and elements Madrigal Concerto Monody Dance songs Dramatic recitative Bel Canto Aria Strophic Aria Cantata Oratorio National Idioms