“Revenge” aria from Magic Flute

• Composer: W.A. Mozart (Austrian; 1756-91)

• Era: Classical (1750-1825)
• Genre: Aria (solo song) and opera (sung play)
• Sound: Coloratura Soprano accompanied by an orchestra. German text.
• Musical Characteristics: High notes, coloratura soprano,
vibrato (slight fluctuation of pitch in the voice), long breaths, extreme
ranges, fast passages, mellismas (many notes per syllable)

• Reflection: This piece made me feel mysterious yet happy at times

when the high notes were sung. It makes me excited.
 “Legend of 12 Robbers”

• Composer: Unknown
• Era: Unknown
• Genre: Song
• Sound: Basso Profondo, male chorus (acappella), Russian text.
• Musical Characteristics: Basso Profondo singer, male chorus
acappella (singing without instruments), low notes, baritones, basses,
tenors.
• Reflection: This piece makes me feel sleepy and comfortable, yet
provides a small feeling of excitement when the lowest note is
produced.
 “When I am Laid in Earth” aria
from Dido and Aneas

• Composer: Henry Purcell (English; 1659-95)

• Era: Baroque (1600-1750)
• Genre: aria (solo song) and opera (sung play)
• Sound: Contralto solo and piano
• Musical Characteristics: Marian Anderson, slow-
paced, vibrato (slight fluctuation in the pitch of the voice)
• Reflection: This place makes me feel gloomy and
depressed. It also reminds me of a funeral and makes me
think of death.
 “Largo al Factotum” aria
from Barber of Seville opera

• Composer: Gioachino Rossini (Italian)

• Era: Classical-Romantic (1750-1900)
• Genre: Opera (sung play) and aria (solo song)
• Sound: Baritone solo accompanied by an orchestra
• Musical Characteristics: Vibrato (slight fluctuation
in pitch of voice), baritone solo, “Figaro” is said, fast-
paced.
• Reflection: This piece makes me feel energetic and
confident.
 “Nessun Dorma” aria
from Turandot opera

• Composer: G. Puccini (Italian)

• Era: Romantic (1825-1900)
• Genre: aria (solo song) and opera (sung play)
• Sound: Tenor solo accompanied by an orchestra
• Musical Characteristics: Luciano Pavarotti sang
the aria, Italian tenor, Italian text, orchestra
• Reflection: This piece makes me feel inspired as if
anything is possible. It makes me think of the night sky.
 “Orpheus ed Eurydice”

• Composer: Christoph Willibald Ritter von Gluck (1714-1787) (Was

knighted in 1756) German.

• Era: Late Baroque/ Early Classical (1725-1755)

• Genre: Opera (sung play) and aria (solo song)
• Sound: Counter tenor accompanied by an orchestra and a harp
• Musical Characteristics: High voice, chorus of “No”, counter-
tenor solo, Italian text

• Reflection: This song makes me feel hopeful yet denied at the same
time. It gives an awkward feeling and makes me feel desperate for
something.
 Falsetto

• Song: “Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens

“Big Girls Don’t Cry” by Frankie Vallie and the 4 Seasons

• Era: 20th Century

The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra (Variations
and a Fugue on a theme by Henry Purcell)

• Composer: Benjamin Britten (British)

• Era: 20th Century
• Genre: Piece for orchestra
• Sound: Orchestra, brass instruments, percussions, woodwinds, strings.
• Musical Chars.: Each family of instruments was played separately and
eventually joined together. Each family had its own timbre (color and quality of
sound).
• Form: Themes of each instrument family and then orchestra.
• Reflection: This piece made me feel curious and interested in what was
being played separately. At times I felt inspired and at other times, I felt mellow.

Jason Duong Pd. 7 Ms. Shamazov