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    History of Classical Music

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    • Introduction to Classical Music
      • 1.1A General Overview
      • 1.2Roots of Western Music
      • 1.3Understanding Musical Styles
    • The Medieval Period (500-1400)
      • 2.1Introduction to the Medieval Era
      • 2.2Gregorian Chant
      • 2.3The Birth of Polyphony
    • The Renaissance Period (1400-1600)
      • 3.1Renaissance Music
      • 3.2Development of Vocal Music
      • 3.3Birth of Instrumental Music
    • The Baroque Era (1600-1750)
      • 4.1Introduction to the Baroque Era
      • 4.2Famous Baroque Composers
      • 4.3Bach and Handel
      • 4.4The Beginnings of Opera
    • The Classical Period (1750-1820)
      • 5.1The Era of Classicism
      • 5.2Instrumental Music
      • 5.3Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven
    • The Romantic Period (1820-1900)
      • 6.1Introduction to Romantic Era
      • 6.2Execution of ‘Programme Music’
      • 6.3The Virtuoso Solo Performer
      • 6.4The Great Romantics
    • The 20th Century (1900-2000)
      • 7.1Experimental Directions in the Early 20th Century
      • 7.2Neoclassicism and Serialism
      • 7.3Minimalism
    • Modernism in Music
      • 8.1The Age of Modernism
      • 8.2Influence of Impressionism
      • 8.3Expressionism
    • Postmodernism in Music
      • 9.1Introduction to Postmodernism
      • 9.2The Postmodern Technique
      • 9.3The Role of Technology
    • Women in Music
      • 10.1Forgotten Female Composers: The Renaissance Period
      • 10.2Women Composers: The Romantic Period
      • 10.3Women in 20th Century Music
    • Contemporary Music
      • 11.1Defining Contemporary Classical Music
      • 11.2Advances in Technology and its Role
      • 11.3Noteworthy Contemporary Music Composers
    • The Intersection of Classical Music & Pop Culture
      • 12.1Classical Music in Films
      • 12.2Classical Music in Video Games
      • 12.3Classical Music in Advertisements
    • Recap and Conclusion
      • 13.1Recap of the Historical Journey
      • 13.2Current Status and Future of Classical Music

    The Baroque Era (1600-1750)

    The Beginnings of Opera in the Baroque Era

    artform combining sung text and musical score in a theatrical setting

    Artform combining sung text and musical score in a theatrical setting.

    Opera, a dramatic work set to music, is one of the most significant contributions of the Baroque era to the world of music. This unit will explore the birth and evolution of opera during the Baroque period, the components of opera, and the influence of Italian opera across Europe.

    Birth and Evolution of Opera

    Opera was born in Italy around the turn of the 17th century, largely through the efforts of a group of Florentine musicians and intellectuals known as the "Camerata". They sought to recreate the emotive and expressive power of ancient Greek drama, and in doing so, they developed a new form of musical drama - opera.

    The first true opera, "Dafne", was composed by Jacopo Peri in 1598. However, it was Claudio Monteverdi's "L'Orfeo" in 1607 that established the genre's enduring format. Monteverdi's operas demonstrated the power of music to convey emotion and tell a story, setting the stage for the development of opera over the next three centuries.

    Components of Opera

    Opera is composed of several key components. The overture is an instrumental introduction that sets the mood. The aria is a solo vocal piece with instrumental accompaniment, often expressing the character's emotions. The recitative is a style of delivery in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms of ordinary speech, often used to move the plot forward. The chorus involves multiple voices and is often used to provide commentary on the action.

    Influence of Italian Opera and Its Spread Across Europe

    Italian opera set the standard in the Baroque era. Monteverdi's operas, in particular, were groundbreaking. His use of music to enhance the emotional power of the drama was a revelation, and his operas were performed throughout Italy.

    By the mid-17th century, Italian opera had spread across Europe. In France, Jean-Baptiste Lully developed a French version of the Italian opera seria, a form of opera that was known for its serious tone and use of mythology. In Germany, composers like Reinhard Keiser and George Frideric Handel began producing operas in the Italian style, contributing to the spread and evolution of the genre.

    In conclusion, the Baroque era was a pivotal period in the development of opera. The genre's birth in Italy and its subsequent spread across Europe had a profound impact on the history of music, establishing opera as a major form of musical expression.

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    Next up: The Era of Classicism