Opera and Zarzuela: A History of Musical Theater
France
Grand Opera
Characterized by a rich harmonic language and elaborate scenery, Grand Opera typically features three to five acts, ballet, and a chorus and orchestra deeply involved in the drama. It presents a succession of musical forms, including romances, cavatinas, arias, and often a passionate duet. Notable examples include Auber’s La Muette de Portici, Rossini’s William Tell, Bellini’s I Puritani, and Wagner’s Rienzi.
Opéra Comique
Favored by the bourgeoisie, Opéra Comique led to the construction
Read MoreLos Tres: Chilean Rock Band History & Legacy
Los Tres: A History of Chilean Rock
Beginnings in Concepción
Los Tres, a significant symbol of ’90s Chilean music and its resurgence in 2006, emerged from Concepción. This provincial origin contributed to their unique character, bypassing the traditional ‘capital city’ approach to a music career. The band formed through the friendship of Álvaro Henríquez (guitar, vocals), Roberto “Titae” Lindl (bass), and Francisco Molina (drums), schoolmates at Charles de Gaulle. Their early passion for music
Read MoreUnderstanding Narrative Styles and Literary Genres
Direct Style
Plasma when the narrator presents the text or dialogue of the characters directly to each other, without intervening or taking an active part in their discursive expressions. This implies that the characters themselves are speaking, evident with the use of quotes.
- “- It appears that there were no classes yesterday …”
- “- Really? If I had known, I would not have worried so much about my absence.”
Reported Speech
The narrator’s presence is shown in the discourse of the story. The narrator
Read MoreBaroque Art: Evolution and Key Characteristics
Baroque Art: 17th and 18th Centuries
Baroque art served as propaganda for the Church, absolutist states, and the Protestant bourgeoisie. It emphasized the human figure in both idealized and realistic forms.
The Baroque period is divided into three phases:
- Early/Primitive (1580-1630)
- Full (1630-1680)
- Late/Rococo (1680-1750)
Baroque Architecture
Baroque architecture is characterized by its integration with urbanism, creating scenic cities. Palaces were urban apartment buildings for powerful families, while
Read MoreStravinsky’s Rite of Spring: A Rhythmic Revolution
Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring: A Detailed Analysis
Rhythm: A Revolutionary Approach
Stravinsky’s innovative treatment of rhythm is a defining feature of The Rite of Spring. The seemingly regular division of musical strains, initially suggesting a binary rhythm, is disrupted by a striking use of syncopation and accents. Accented chords, reinforced by eight horns, punctuate the string notes, creating unusual groupings, such as 9 + 2 + 6 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 3 in the first eight bars. This rhythmic
Read MoreBaroque Music: Forms, Composers, and Characteristics
Secular vs. Religious Cantata
The secular cantata is a non-religious musical form, shorter than an opera, composed for singing. It takes cues from the motet and opera structures.
The religious cantata features a lyrical, religious text with instrumental accompaniment (orchestra), performed by one or more soloists (with or without chorus) or just a chorus. It was commonly performed in Protestant masses.
Initially, the secular cantata was readily adopted by the church.
Passion vs. Mass
A Passion is an