Opera: The Basics [Paperback]

Opera: The Basics offers an excellent introduction to four centuries of opera. Its easy to follow sections explore topics including:

• the origins of opera
• basic terminology
• the history of major opera genres including: serious opera, comic opera, semi-serious opera and vernacular opera.

With key notes, discography and videography, this is the ideal book for students and interested listeners who want to learn more about this important musical genre.

This introduction explores opera's origins, terminology and genres over the past four centuries.Denise Gallo is a Music Specialist at The Library of Congress. Previously, she was an Assistant Professor and Co-Director of the Music History Division at The Catholic University of America, where she now remains an adjunct professor. She is a frequent lecturer for Washington Opera, the Baltimore Opera Company, Washington Concert Opera, and Summer Opera Theatre Company, and a contributing author to The Washington Opera Magazine and the Baltimore Opera Subscribers' Study Guide. Gallo is the author of several books, including Rossini: A Guide to Research (Routledge) Clear and well-organized. -- Ellen Rosand, Professor of Music and Chair of the Music Department at Yale UniversityIntroductionPart I Terms and Topics 1. Origins of OperaThe ultimate Baroque expression Baroque CharacteristicsThe Florentine Camerata: Opera's First TheoristsFrom Polyphony to Monody: Solo SongMonody as Recitative Opera's forerunnersThe IntermedioLearned Comedy (Commedia erudite) Italian Folk Comedy (Commedia dell'arte)Pastoral DramaChurch pageants (Sacre Rappresentazioni)Sidebar: Claudio MonteverdiSummaryTerminologyAria StrophicThrough-composedDa capoDal segnoCavatina CantabileCabalettaRecitativeThe rhythm of languageDry (secco)Accl³.