Free essays on opera are written by individuals who have an interest in this art form and wish to share their knowledge and experience with others. These essays can cover a wide range of topics, including the historical development of opera, the different types of operas, notable composers and performers, and insights into the storytelling and musical elements that make up this unique art form. Reading free essays on opera can offer valuable insights into the world of opera and can deepen understanding and appreciation of this cultural treasure.
Uni Student’s Christmas Carol Adaptation
For the extra credit report, I went to the performance on Thursday, November 29, 2018. It was held at the Grand Theatre at Salt Lake Community showcasing the Lyric Opera Ensemble. In this performance, the ensemble performed Amahl and The Night Visitors and A Christmas Carol. Both operas were very interesting to watch as I had never been to an opera before, I really enjoyed seeing the stories unfold in both. Also, I was surprised to find out that the…...
A Christmas CarolEntertainmentMusicOpera
An Analysis of the Relationships in The Beggar’s Opera by John Gay
Relationships in John Gay's The Beggar's Opera works on a strange level. For one notion, people who profess to be friends will ultimately work to cheat the other(s) for their own betterment. Familial relationships also work on a similar level, where parents will turn down their children for their own desires. We also mustn't forget the way that the Beggar has a relationship with the entire play, making the whole play very meta, and his friendship with the Player(s). There…...
ComedyOperaTragedy
The Use of Comedy and Parody in The Beggar’s Opera by John Gay
With most of his works created during the Augustan era, they were more focused on public satire, all while utilizing the criminal population during that time as inspiration for some of his characters. Written in 1728, The Beggar's Opera was one of his most famous pieces. Gay used comedy in this opera to convey the situations most business-oriented, money-savvy people dealt with at the time. Through this play, one can infer that the elite had no barriers when it came…...
DeceptionIronyOpera
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Women’s Struggles in Victorian England in Princess Ida
"Come, mighty Must! Inevitable shall!" Blanche, an ambitious instructor at the illustrious Castle Adamant, exclaims this as she contemplates her future at the school. She is welcoming of change and its possibilities. She understands that change and reform in the way things are done can be beneficial, depending on one's point of view. W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan saw these changes happening in the world around them when they debuted Princess Ida. Change was something that all of Victorian London…...
OperaSatireVictorian Era
The History of the Opera
In all of Europe, Opera is a very widespread and popular musical tradition and since, the popularity has only flourished. Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text along with musical score. It has been said that those who sing opera compare to olympic athletes, but in the category of singing. It is very demanding art and people spend a lot of time trying to master this craft. It doesn't only consist…...
Classical MusicCultureOpera
A Review of the Preface to Alceste, an Opera by Christoph Willibald Gluck
William Gluck was born in 1714 near the German-Bohemian border. He was enlightened composer who brought about new ideas to opera. His new ideas included changing the opera (opera seria) from being serious and reenacting 'old theatre' to a more fun and comical approach (opera buffa). The new styles focus was on “dramatic expression". The preface to Alceste was written to the Royal Highness for approval. Gluck thought that his new series of work was so special that he needed…...
Classical MusicCompositionOpera
Mozart Wolfgang Essay
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756, in Salzburg. His full name given during the baptism was Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart and he often called himself Wolfgang Amade Mozart. During his lifetime Mozart created more than 600 musical works, which have been widely popular during the last several centuries. Given the artist’s short lifespan the amount of work he created is especially stunning. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has been and remains one of the most famous classical composers…...
Classical MusicMusicOperaWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Woyzeck Summary
This essay sample essay on Woyzeck Summary offers an extensive list of facts and arguments related to it. The essay's introduction, body paragraphs and the conclusion are provided below.The wise saying goes, “They do not have enough money for the funeral rites; God, let not the poor persons die!” Woyzeck is based on a true story. To meet the ends of justice, a poor person was executed for stabbing his wife, Marie, to death. This incident inspired Buchner to create…...
ActorOperaPoverty
Richard Wagner Popular German Composer
In the following example, an essay about Richard Wagner is a popular but controversial German composer. Read the introduction, body and conclusion of the essay, scroll down. As in religious and political questions, when race has once been admitted, it becomes a factor of the highest importance in musical controversy. A prominent part in the music and literature of Germany in the 19th century played the popular, but controversial as well, German composer, conductor, theatre director and essayist Richard Wagner.…...
CultureMusicNazi GermanyOperaRichard Wagner
“The Noise of the Time” by Julian Barnes
The following example essay on "The Noise of the Time by Julian Barnes" is an analysis of a literary work published in 2016. It is about the life of Dmitri Shostakovich, a Soviet-era Russian composer. Dmitri Shostakovich, one of the greatest composers of the 20th century, had to live the misfortune at a time and in a country where he could make anyone right, even if he would have wanted. The extraordinary talent, born in 1906, already developed as a…...
Joseph StalinOperaPhilosophyTime
Mozart and the Transformation of Opera Buffa
How did Mozart transform the genre of opera buffa? Opera buffa, or comic opera, arose as a musical genre in Eighteenth-century Italy. There is debate over whether opera buffa was derived directly from the interval entertainment between acts of Opera Seria, known as intermezzi, or whether it is an entirely individual genre that arose around the same time.1 What is clear is that opera seria, serious opera, was in desperate need of reformation as it was no longer providing the…...
Classical MusicOperaTheatre
Enlightenment and Art/Literature
Advocacy for the rising middle class was a hallmark of: the enlightenment Which period of European art and literature most captivated 18th-century thinkers? the greek and roman periods (antiquity) Which classical-era composer performed in public concerts Haydn The music of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven is characterized by: singable lyrical melodies Demand for music making in the Classical era came consistently from the: court Louis XV and Frederick the Great ruled as a result of: aristocratic norms Composers of the Classical…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsLudwig Van BeethovenMusicOperaWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Music Appreciation – Mozart
The third movement of Eine kleine Nachtmusik features short, repeated sections. True The second theme in a sonata-allegro movement is typically in a contrasting key. True The last section of sonata-allegro form that restates the themes is called: recapitulation A motive is typically derivative of a larger theme. True The cadence at the end of the first movement in a sonata cycle is in a dominant key. False The longest and most dramatic movement of the multimovement cycle was generally…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsLudwig Van BeethovenMusicOperaWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
music test 3 part 2
of the following, who did not write a major concerto in the romantic era? schubert what is the typical number of movements found in a concerto? three a fanciful solo passage in an improvisational style that is interpolated into a concerto movement is called cadenza of the following, which doe not describe symphony composition in the romantic era composers wrote more symphonies than their classical counterparts by the romantic era, concerts had moved from the aristocratic palace to the church…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOperaRichard Wagner
Romantic Poet’s Favorite Themes and Repetition in Song
The favorite subjects of the romantic poets were: love, longing, and nature A song form in which the main melody is repeated for two or three stanzas but introduces new or significant varied material when the text requires it is called: modified strophic Schubert and his friends organized evening gatherings of artists, writers, and musicians, called: Schubertiads In which genre was Schubert NOT indebted to Classical traditions? Lied Approximately how many songs did Schubert compose? more than 600 What is…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOperaPianoRichard Wagner
Music Final Chapters 29-31
Beethoven called the Moonlight sonata a:. fantasy-like sonata Beethoven composed the Moonlight sonata: early in his career Beethoven felt that the Moonlight sonata was not one of his best works. true Beethoven gave the nickname "Moonlight" to his own piano sonata. false Beethoven had little regard for the formal conventions of his day. false Beethoven's Moonlight sonata is set in a minor key throughout all the movements. false Beethoven's Moonlight sonata was dedicated to one of his students, with whom…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOperaSonataWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Music 101 Midterm Speedbacks
Lessons 1-3: Pavanes are often paired with galliards Which of the following is not a chief characteristic of the late medieval motet? stratified texture intricate and complex rhythmic combinations dissonant harmonies! smooth, regular rhythms and long, lyrical melodies Which of the following is not a characteristic of Notre Dame organum? the first use of fixed patterns of surface rhythm use of textures in which some voices move quickly; others, more slowly use of long-held notes in the lower parts texts…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOperaSound
MUS 1030: Unit 5
Which of the following was not a member of the Russian five? Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Which of the following statements is not true? The strongest impact of musical nationalism was felt in Italy, France, Germany, and Austria. Which of the following statements is not true? During the last years of his life, Liszt settled in Rome and devoted himself solely to his religious duties. Which of the following statements is not true of the piano in the early romantic period?…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOperaRichard WagnerRomanticism
Romanticism Questons and Answers
Romanticism, as a stylistic period in western art music, encompassed the years 1820-1900 Which of the following is not characteristic of romanticism? An emphasis on balance and clarity of structures Which of the following is not a characteristic aspect of romanticism in literature and painting? Emotional restraint Of all the inspirations for romantic art, none was more important than nature. Which of the following composers is not associated with the romantic period? Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Drawing creative inspiration from cultures…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOperaPianoRomanticism
Music Appreciation Exam 4
T/F The Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth century saw a series of important inventions, which helped shape the modern world. True T/F The composers Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert all composed in large-scale forms. True Maria Theresa von Paradis She was blind. She was an excellent pianist and organist. Authors associated with the German Sturm und Drang (storm and stress) movement of the 1770s were: Schiller and Goethe The music of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert is characterized by _____…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsLudwig Van BeethovenMusicOperaWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Barroco Pearl & Handel’s Harpsichord
barroco irregular shaped pearl the _________ is a keyboard instrument whose strings are plucked by quile harpsichord Handel was considered a master of writing what form oratario dido sings her favorite lament in the opera “dido and aeneas” just prior before doing what kills herself the first era of western music history in which instrumental music was a major vocal for composers for what time period the baroque era the keyboard instrument that uses various sets of pipes to create…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOpera
Baroque Music and Virtuosity
As musical instruments developed technically, the level of virtuosity rose in the Baroque. True The term "Baroque" means misshapen, extravagant, or even distorted true The two instruments that provided Baroque accompaniment as a pair are referred to as: Basso Continuo The approximate dates of the Baroque period are: 1600 - 1750 The group of early Baroque writers, artists, and musicians whose aim was to resurrect the musical drama of ancient Greece was known as: the Florentine Camerata What is figured…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOpera
Music Appreciation Final Pt. 1
A musical sound is represented by a symbol called a(n): note Measures mark off groupings of beats, each with a fixed number that coincides with the meter. True A repeated rhythmic pattern in which an accented beat is followed by two unaccented beats is in: triple meter The metrical pattern in which a strong beat alternates with a weak one is called: duple meter The resting place at the end of a phrase is called: a cadence Syncopation is typical…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsHarmonyLudwig Van BeethovenMusicOpera
Music Appreciation Pt. 6
Impartial in approach; reality rather than illusion classicism Aristocratic patronage of the arts classicism Emphasis on balance and clarity of structures classicism Emotional subjectivity; fantasy romanticism Interest in the strange and the unknown romanticism Wide range of emotional expression romanticism Nationalism romanticism Traditionalism; adherence to established methods classicism Enthusiasm for the culture of the Middle Ages romanticism Exoticism romanticism Belief in the supernatural; personification romanticism Art and culture of ancient Greece as a basic influence classicism Brilliant colors and dynamic…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOperaRomanticismSong
section 5 Example
Orchestration The technique of setting music for instruments in various combinations. Page 192 Through-composed Song structure that is composed from beginning to end without repetitions of large sections. Page 196 Modified strophic form Song structure that combines elements of strophic and through-composed forms; a variation of strophic form in which a section might have a new key, rhythm, or varied melodic pattern. Page 196 Lied German for "song"; most commonly associated with the solo art song of the nineteenth century,…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOperaRichard WagnerSong
Survey of Music
A scale comprised entirely of half steps is called a ____ scale Chromatic An interval smaller than a half step is called a: Microtone The key of a piece is determined: By the scale used When a composer shifts the pitch level of an entire work, it is called: Transportation The sign that indicates a pitch should be raised a half step is called a: Sharp The note one half step above G is: G Sharp When a composer shifts…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOpera
Music Chapter 30-40
A song form in which the same melody is repeated for each stanza, often heard in popular music, is known as: modified strophic form strophic form through-composed form b A song form that is composed from beginning to end without repetitions of whole sections is called: through-composed form strophic form modified strophic form a A group of Lieder unified by a descriptive or narrative theme is known as a: medley oratorio song cycle c A Lied is an art song…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOperaRichard WagnerSong
Opera and Recitative.
A drama that is sung is called: an opera The vocal style in opera that imitates the natural inflections of speech is called: recitative It was thorough the musical innovations of the __ that opera was born. Florentine Camerata A highly emotional song in an opera is called an aria The orchestral introduction heard at the beginning of an opera is called: an overture The text of an opera is called: the script Who is best viewed as the first…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOpera
Music Mid Term Questions and Answers
The approximate dates of the Baroque period are: 1600-1750. Which of the following does NOT characterize the Baroque era? an age of freedom and democracy John Milton's Paradise Lost is an epic poem expressing the views of: Protestantism Which best describes how Baroque musicians made a living? as servants to royalty or nobility as members of the church as employees of a free city The Baroque period witnessed a new style of music, which featured a single vocal melody with…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOpera
Music Appreciation (Baroque)
The vocal style in opera that imitates the natural infliction of speech is called: recitative It was through the musical innovations of the ______________ that opera was born Florentine Camerata The text of an opera is called: the libretto Who is best viewed as the first master of opera? Monteverdi A type of English entertainment combining music, poetry, and dance was called: masque The greatest native-born English composer of the Baroque was: Henry Purcell Dido's Lament from Purcell's opera Dido…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOpera
CH. 16 intro. to music
Monteverdi's The Coronation of Poppea is based on a Greek myth. False The earliest operas took their plots from: Greek mythology. It was through the musical innovations of the __________ that opera was born. Florentine Camerata Lully was the leading composer of opera in France. True Recitative that is just accompanied by continuo instruments is called secco. True Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas was composed for: a production at a girls' school. The aria "When I am laid in earth"…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOpera
Music Appreciation 2
The final section of a sonata-allegro movement, which rounds it off with a vigorous closing cadence, is: the coda Which of the following best describes the opening of the first movement of Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik? It has a march like character The minuet was originally a Baroque court dance. True The overall form of a minuet and trio is best described as: A-B-A The Trumpet Concerto in E-flat is Haydn's only concerto False Mozart was able to complete so…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsIgor StravinskyMusicOperaWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Part 3- The Baroque Era
true Absolute monarchy was the main form of European government during the Baroque, one important ruler being Louis XIV of France. true false false Artists such as Bernini and Rubens created works that demonstrate the absence of dramatic gestures in the Baroque era. true false true As musical instruments developed technically, the level of virtuosity rose during the Baroque. true false false The Baroque era was characterized by peaceful relations between Protestants and Catholics. true false the "new style" The…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOpera
Music Listening (Twentieth Century)
In music, the early twentieth century was a time of revolt and change. Which of the following statements is not true? A. The years following 1900 saw more fundamental changes in the language of music than any time since the beginning of the baroque era. B. Twentieth-century music follows the same general principles of musical structure as earlier periods. C. Twentieth-century music relies less on preestablished relationships and expectations. D. After 1900 each musical composition is more likely to have…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsIgor StravinskyImpressionismMusicOpera
Music Appreciation: Romantic Period (Practice)
C Romanticism as a stylistic period in western art music, encompassed the years... A) 1600-1750 B) 1750-1820 C) 1820-1900 D) 1900-1950 B Which of the following is not characteristic of romanticism? A)A fascination with fantasy B)An emphasis on balance and clarity of structures C)An enthusiasm for the culture of the Middle Ages D)An interest in exoticism and the past C Of all the inspirations for romantic art, none was more important than... A)the aristocracy. B)ancient Greek art and culture. C)nature.…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsImpressionismMusicOperaRichard Wagner
Baroque Era Questions and Answers Test
During the seventeenth century, women who desired a public voice through music often joined a: convent Which of the following was a reason that a woman would join a convent during the seventeenth century? a. to avoid an unwanted marriage b. to seek asylum after being widowed c. to have an outlet for musical talent d. all of the above d. all of the above the canticle of Mary is generally known as the Magnificat during which service does the…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOpera
Music Appreciation ch. 47-51
What name is given to the expansion and intensification of late Romantic trends? post-Romantic Which of the following is NOT a major figure in post-Romanticism? Brahms Which of the following operas is an example of exoticism? Madame Butterfly The late-Romantic Italian opera tradition was characterized by a movement toward realism, called: verismo With which operatic movement is realism associated? impressionism Which of the following composers did NOT compose in the verismo style? Verdi Verismo was a late-Romantic movement in opera…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsImpressionismMusicOperaPainting
Week 3 Quiz in Western Music History Q&A
During the seventeenth century, women who desired a public voice through music often joined a: convent The canticle of Mary is generally known as the: Magnificat During which service does the Magnificat occur? Vespers The prayer of praise at the end of the Magnificat is called the: doxology What service(s) did Chiara Margarita Cozzolani provide for the convent of St. Radegonda? composer A drama that is sung is called a(n): opera A highly emotional song in an opera is called…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOpera
Romantic Flash Cards
A song form in which the same melody is repeated with every stanza of text is called: strophic a song structure that is composed from beginning to end without repetition of whole sections is called: through-composed a song form where the main melody is repeated for two or three stanzas but has new or significantly varied material introduced when the text requires it is called: modified strophic the german term for the art song is: lied a german-texted song with…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOperaRichard WagnerSong
Music Appreciation (Test 3)
What did Liszt create? Symphonic (tone) poem. Symphonice (tone) poem 1 movement orchestral work, flexible form. Program music Instrumental music associated with story, poem, idea, scene. Understanding the music enhanced through reading program or viewing associated work. Nationalism Music with a national identity. Exoticism Intentionally imply foreign culture. Characteristics of Romantic Music Individuality of style, expressive aims and subjects, nationalism and exoticism, program music, expressive tone color, colorful harmony How does nationalism manifest itself in music? They have to create…...
Classical MusicFlashcardsMusicOperaPianoSong
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