MAPEH MUSIC REVIEWER SCENE

WEEK 1 VOCAL ROMANTIC MUSIC Setting or place.

Vocal music is one of the best tools for expressing one's feelings.
This form of expression became more evident during the Romantic period. The
Romantic Period’s basic quality is emotional subjectivity. Composers explore
feelings of grandiosity, intimacy, unpredictability, sadness, rapture and longing.
Romantic vocal forms like the art song and operas were about
fantasy, supernatural, romance and the nature as mirror of the human heart.
Virtuoso performers are not only instrumentalists but also singers. One singer
sometimes sounds lixe several characters by use of different vocal register. By
understanding the past, we learn to appreciate the things we enjoy today.
CHARACTERISTICS OF VOCAL ROMANTIC MUSIC
1. Parallelism in music and literature was evident in all forms of
romantic music.
2. Composers interpret poems, mood, atmosphere, and imagery into
music.
3. Musical composition such art song was written for solo voice and
piano.
4. Mood was set at the beginning with piano introduction and
concluded with piano postlude.
5. Romantic artists took inspiration from landscapes.
6. Vocal music in this period required singers to perform at a greater
range of tone, dynamics, and pitch.
SUBJECT OF VOCAL ROMANTIC LOVE BOMBING
1. Traditional Myths
2. Legends
3. Folklore – Usually deal with supernatural, grotesque, and less
ordinary
OPERA
Is a drama set to music where singers and musicians perform in a
theatrical setting. Opera became increasingly popular during the Romantic
period. It is a musical composition having all or most of its text set to music
with arias, recitative, choruses, duets, trios, etc. sung to orchestral
accompaniment. The opera is usually characterized by elaborate costumes,
scenery and choreography.
TWO TYPES OF OPERA
 OPERA SERIA (SERIOUS OPERA)
 OPERA BUFFA (COMNIC OPERA) from Italy
OPERA SERIA (SERIOUS OPERA)
Implies heroic or tragic drama that employs mythological character.
OPERA BUFFA (COMIC OPERA)
From Italy. Made use of everyday characters and situations and typically
employs spoken dialogues and lengthy arias.
LIBERRETO
The text of an opera. Librettist and the composer work closely
together to tell a story.
Score
The book that the composer and librettist put together. The score
has all the musical notes, words, and ideas to help the performers tell the story.
Often, there are operas with overtures, preludes, prologues, several acts,
finales, and postludes.
RECITATIVE
Declamatory singing, used in the prose parts and dialogue of opera.
Different roles in opera are created taking into account different types of
voices. Each roles require a different type of singer, not only able to sing a
given vocal range but also with certain voice characteristics, color, and power.
ARIA
An air or solo singing part sung by a principal character. This song
is what the public will remember best when leaving the opera house. Properly
and well sung, a beautiful aria can bring an audience to its feet and decide the
fate of the entire opera.
ACTS
Main division of an opera.
OPERA AND COMPOSERS OF ROMANTIC PERIOD
1. FRANZ PETER SCHUBERT
2. GIUSSEPPE VERDI
3. GIACOMO PUCCINI
4. RICHARD WAGNER
5. GEORGES BIZET
Franz Peter Schubert
The proper name for Franz Schubert songs is actually “lieder”,
which is the germen word for “songs” (“lieder” – German term for
composition for solo voice and piano).
Schubert developed “lieder” so that they had a powerful dramatic
impact on the listeners.
He is considered the last of the classical composers and one of the
first romantic ones.
His famous vocal music works / Lieder were “Gretchen am
Spinnrade”, “Erlkonig”, “Elens Gesang lll” (Ave Maria), and
“Schwanenge sang” (Swan song). He also wrote piano pieces, string
quartets, operetta, and the sypmphony NO. 8 in B minor
(Unfinished Symphony)
Born on the 31st of January 1797 in Himmelpfortgrund, Austria
Died in 1828 in Vienna, Austria at the age of 31.
GIUSSEPE VERDI
A name that is associated with the romantic opera is Verdi.
Expressive vocal melody is the soul of a Verdi opera.
His characteristics are ordinary people and not those of the royal
family like those found in German operas. He insisted on a good
libretto and wrote operas with political overtones and for middle –
class audience.
Was born in Parma, Italy on October 9, 1813. He died in Milan,
Italy on January 27,1901
Studied in Busseto and later went to Milan where his first opera
“OBERTO” was performed in La Scala, the most important opera
house at that time.
Almost all his works are serious love story with unhappy ending.
He completed 25 operas throughout his career. His final opera ends
with “All the world’s a joke”
His much-acclaimed works are, La Traviata, Rigoletto (La Donna e
Mobile), Falstaff, Otello and Aida where he wrote for the opening
of the Suez Canal.
Giacomo Puccini
Was born in a poor family on December 22, 1858, in Lucca, Italy.
He studied at the Milan Conservatory.
He belonged to a group of composers who stressed realism;
therefore, he drew material from everyday life, rejecting heroic
themes from mythology and history
Puccini's famous operas were: "La Boheme", "Tosca", "Madame
Butterfly", and "Turandot"
Richard Wagner
was born in Leipzig, Germany on May 22, 1813.
Wagner introduced new ideas in harmony and in form, including
extremes of chromaticism.
He also explored the limits of the traditional tonal system that gave
keys and chords its own identity which paved the way for the rise of
atonality in the 20th century Wagner exerted a strong influence on
the operatic medium.
He was an advocate of a new form of opera which he called "music
drama" where musical and dramatic elements were fused together.
He developed a compositional style in which the orchestra has of
equal importance in dramatic roles as the singers themselves.
The expressiveness is aided by the use of "leitmotifs" or musical
sequences standing for a particular character/plot element.
His famous works are; "Tristan and Isolde", "Die Walkyrie", "Die
Meistersinger", "Tannhäuser", and "Parsifal" His work would later
influence modern film scores, including those of the Harry Potter
and Lord of the Rings film series. Wagner died of a heart attack on
February 13,1883 at age of 69.
Georges Bizet
Georges Bizet was registered with the legal name Alexandre-Cesar-
Leopold Bizet but was baptized Georges Bizet and was always
known by the latter name.
 He was born October 25, 1838, in Paris, France.
He entered the Paris Conservatory of music at a very young age.
ARTS Bizet became famous for his operas.
His most famous opera is "Carmen". However, when "Carmen" first ARTS
opened in Paris, the reviews were terrible. The shows were
criticized in horrible ways that resulted in poor audience attendance. LESSON 1: Western Classical Theater
During the first round of "Carmen" performances, Bizet died (June
3, 1875). He was only 36. Four months later, "Carmen" opened in A. Ancient Theater (Greek and Roman Theater) 700 B.C.E.410 C.E.
Vienna, Austria, and was a smash hit. It is now one of the most
popular operas ever written. Bizet never knew that audiences would European theater began in Ancient Greece. It began around 7008.C. with
come to consider it as his masterpiece. festivals honoring their gods (Di-on-i-us), the god of wine and fertility. The
city-state of Athens, the center of a significant cultural, political, and military
power during this period is where the festivals and competitions were usually
performed.
TWO FAMOUS OPERAS FROM THE ROMANTIC PEROIOD
The theater of ancient Greece consisted of three types of drama:
1. MADAME BUTTERFLY
2. LA TRAVIATA 1. Tragedy.
2. Comedy Satyr play.
3. Ancient Theater Terms

MADAME BUTTERFLY Theater buildings were called theatron.

Music by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) The theater were large, open-air-structures constructed on the slopes of hills.
Libretto in Italian by Giuseppe Ciacosa and Luigi Ilica. From the They consisted of three main elements: the orchestra, the skene, and the
short story by John Luther Lung, derived from Pierre Loti's tale audience.
Madame Chrysantheme.
1) Theatron - viewing on the slope of a hill
Romantic tragedy. Set numbers; recitative. Setting: Nagasaki,
2) Skene stage
Japan, at the beginning of the 20th century. Two acts; Act 2 with
3) Parodos - side entrance
two parts.
B. Roman Theater

The theater of ancient Rome started in the 3 century DC. had varied and
LA TRIVIATA
interesting art forms such as performances of street theatre, acrobatics, the
Music by Cluseppe Verdi (1813-1901) staging of comedies of Polutus, and the high-verbally elaborate tragedies of
Libretto in Italian by Francesco Maria Piave, based on "La Dame Seneca. Greek theaters had a great influence on the Roman theater, too. The
aux Camélias," play by Alexandre Dumas after his novel by the Tum was one of the first permanent (non-wooden) theaters in Rome, whose
same name. The play is known in English as "Camille." Premiere: structure was somewhat like the Theatron of Athens. The building was a part of
Venice, March 6, 1853 a multi-use complex that included a large quadriporticus (a columned
quadrangle), behind the directly scene from (an elaborately decorated
Categorized as a Romantic tragedy.
background of theater stage) and is enclosed by the large columned portion
Set in Paris, France during 1850.
with an expansive garden complex of fountains and statues. There were rooms
Originally in three acts, but present-day productions are usually in that were dedicated to the exposition of art and other works collected by
four acts dividing the original Pompey Magnus which were located along the stretch of covered arcade.
ACT I: Violetta's Paris salon, luxuriously furnished
ACT II: A villa near Paris The usual themes for Roman theater plays were charlots races, gladiators and
ACT III: Ballroom in Flora's mansion ACT public executions. Comedy plays were popular too in Roman Theater from
IV: Violetta's bedroom 350 to 251 B.C. and women were allowed to perform on stage

TYPES OF VOICE OF SINGERS C. Medieval Theater-500 C.E. -1400

MALE SINGERS In Medieval era, theater performances were not allowed throughout Europe. To
1. TENOR – Highest male voice. keep the theater alive, minstrels, through denounced by the Church, performed
2. BARITONE – Middle male voice, lies between bass and tenor in markets, public places, and festivals. They travelled from one town to
voices. It is the common male voice. another as puppeteers, jugglers, story tellers, dancers, singers, and other
3. BASS – Lowest male voice. performers in other theatrical acts. These minstrels were viewed as dangerous
and pagan.
FEMALE SINGERS
D. Renaissance Theater -1400 -1fl00
1. SOPRANO – Highest female voice
2. COLORATURA – highest soprano voice Renaissance theater arts were characterized by a return of Classical Greek and
3. LYRIC – Bright and full sound Roman arts and culture. One of the most prominent supporters of the theater
4. DRAMATIC – Dark full sound was Queen Elizabeth I.
5. MEZZO – SUPRANO – Most common female voice; tone is
Innovations of the Stage:
darker or deeper than the soprano (Range is A3 to A5 in piano)
6. CONTRAITO – Lowest female voice and most unique among 1. Proscenium was developed. This is the area of a theater surrounding
female. the stage opening. Arches frame and divide the stage from the
audience.
2. Backdrops for scenery were popularized by the art of painting
Dynamics and vocals embellishments were used to further affect the way clothes.
singers sing. Some musical terms are used like: 3. Commedia dell'arte or "Comedy of the Profession" was developed.
It was quick-witted performance of the character/players.
1. A capella – one or more singers performing without instrumental
accompaniment D. Baroque Theater - 1600-1750
2. Cantabile – In a singing style
The theater of the Baroque period is marked using technology in current
3. Capo – Head, the beginning.
Broadways or commercial plays. The theater crew uses machines for special
4. Coda – Closing section appended to a movement or song.
effects and scene changes which may be changed in a matter of seconds with
5. Dolce - Sweetly
the use of ropes and pulleys.
6. Falsetto – a weaker and more airy voice usually in the higher pitch
ranges E. Neoclassical Theater - 1800-1900
7. Glissando – Sliding quickly between 2 notes.
8. Passagio – parts of a singing voice where register transition work. The neoclassical period was a movement where the styles of Roman and Greek
9. Rubato – slight speeding up or slowing down of the tempo of a societies influenced the theater arts.
place at the discretion of the soloist.
10. Tessitura – The most comfortable singing range of a singer. During the Neoclassical period, theater was characterized by its grandiosity.
11. Vibrato – rapidly repeated slight pitch in the variation during a Costumes and sceneries were highly elaborate. Stages were restyled with
sustained note, to give a richer and more variated sound. dramatic arches to highlight the scenes. Multiple entry points on the stage were
evident in many plays. Lighting and sound effects intensified the mood and
message of each scene, enhancing the dramatic experience. The idea of back-
drops become more noticeable, particularly with the invention of pulley
systems that allowed parts to move more quickly across the stage.

The concept of decorum (meaning right and proper audience behavior) was THEATRICAL ELEMENTS
applied in this period which means classical concepts and appropriate social
behavior must be observed. 1.GENRE: TRAGEDY

The first "spotlight" was used in the U.S. during this period and were called the 2. CHARACTERS: 1 to 3 characters only, but the can portray other characters
"Limelight". Chorus: consists of twelve (12) members all of whom wear identical masks.

F. Romantic Theater - 1800-2000
During Romantic period, melodrama and operas became the most popular
theatrical forms. Acting, scenery, costumes, and dance were important elements
of theater. It is usually performed in an opera house, accompanied by an
orchestra or smaller ensemble.
3. MASKS: The use of masked acts to advance the universality of the themes
and the dramatic impact of the events and to keep the audience from being
distracted by the actual, physical attributes of the actors.
4. Gestures and Movement- Facial expressions was of no importance to Greek
actors, since they were always wear mask.

5.Music -Sophocles also used the chorus at the beginning of the play to help
tell the audience the given circumstances of the play. Chorus did a lot of
GREEK PLAYS AND OPERA lamenting of terrible events.

FORMS OF DRAMA/PLAY
1. TRAGEDY or tragoedia is an ancient Greek play which may have
started in celebration of Dionysus. It is about the failure and tragic
end of the protagonist, who always a mythical hero or heroine
because of god's will, fate, or arrogance. The protagonist does not
necessarily die in the end but sometimes undergoes misfortune,
pain, and suffering. The Greek actor is called hypokrites which
means "answerer". The hypokrites answers the questions of chorus.
6. Costumes-Men wore loose floor length poncho with pleated shoulder while
female wore draped robes.
7.Staging- The Parthenon's façade has the design of ionic order columns with
cornice and molding on the top, elevated by 5 step risers at the center, and a
platform in front near the audience.
8. Spectacle-Everything that is seen or heard on stage. Actors, sets, costumes,
light and sounds effects.

THREE PLOTS IN PLAY

1. Reversal -Reversal plot or perpeteia happens when an event looks COMEDY - from the Greek word Komoidia was also performed in the
like developing in a path, then changes direction. It is like having a Dionysia festival. Komoidia is from the Greek word Kom meaning "Party and
good ending and yet reverses to a bad ending for the hero. A classic oid meaning "song".
example is Oedipus short-live happiness hearing about the death of
Three stages of Comedy
his foster father Polypus which will turn out to disaster.
2. Recognition - in Greek anagnorisis which means knowing again" or 1. Old Comedy - Tackles political and social issues and concerns and also
"knowing back", is when an event from complete ignorance turns called “Political Comedy". The chorus was an important part of the drama.
into total awareness of something the tragic hero has horribly
committed a mistake. An example is when King Oedipus has 2. New Comedy -Tackled human relationships. The chorus was no longer
learned that the man he killed on the road was his real father, king important part of new comedy plays.
of Thebes.
3. Suffering - Suffering or pathos is when the tragic hero or heroine 3. Middle comedy
commits suicide or suffers painfully from mistakes, fate, or wrath of
the gods. An example upon learning that he has killed his true father Three Important Comedy playwrights
and married his own mother, Oedipus gouged his eyes and banished
1. Cratinus
himself from Thebes.
2. Eupolus
BASIC STRUCTURE OF A GREEK TRAGEDY

1. Prologue- the introduction of the play.

2. Parodos-the song sung by the chorus as it approaches the passageway to the

orchestra. 3. Episode- A short section of the drama that builds parts of related
series of events. A tragedy composed of series of episode.

4. Stasimon - Also called" chorale ode. It is a lyric poem composed of

complex stanzas. It happens at the end of each episode when the characters exit
the scene.

5. Exodos- The end of the drama/play.

THREE FAMOUS GREEK TRAGEDY PLAYWRIGHTS

SOPHOCLES (Sofkliz)- He is an ancient Greece tragedian. He competed in

almost 30 drama/play competitions, won 24 times, and never ranked lower than
second place. He wrote around 123 plays but only seven survived over time in
a complete form. Ajax, Antigone, Oedipus(Eedih-pus), Rex, Electra, Oedipus
at Colonus and Philoctetes. The most famous tragedian of Sophocles was
Oedipus.

EURIPIDES - He wrote more than 90 plays in his life time. He won only 4
competitions. Eighteen of his plays have withstood time. Euripides
contribution to drama or play includes the portrayal of mythical heroes as
common people. His works include Medea, Hercules, and "The Trojan
Women".

AESCHYLUS - He wrote 90 plays of which seven still survive. He introduced

several characters in a play to create conflict among the actors. He was also the
first to introduce plays in trilogy forms. Some of his surviving plays include:
The Persian, Seven against Thebes, and the suppliants. A surviving example of
his trilogy is The Oresteia and include Agamemnon.