, Research Paper
A comparison of two major Baroque composers: Claudio Monteverdi and Domenico Scarlatti
The purpose of this paper is to analyze two psalms by Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi (1567-1643) and Giovanni Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) and compare and contrast the two pieces to find out how music changed throughout the Baroque period. While historians grouped music of the Baroque period together based on certain characteristics, the music did not remain the same throughout the period, as it would not for any other musical time period. Composers from different points in the Baroque period were chosen, but the things the two composers had in common were the country of residence and their nationality. Special care was taken to chose composers from the same country so that differences could not be accounted as being because of different nationalistic styles.
The piece by Monteverdi, Confitebor tibi, Domine (Psalm 110), was a psalm that was used as part of the vespers on Sundays. This particular psalm is found in varied forms in the publication Selva morale et spirituale, published around 1640. This setting is set for four voices and solo soprano voice, and is accompianed by continuo. The piece begins and ends in C major, with use of very few accidentals. The accidentals in this piece were used to create a leading tone to the fifth or tonic. The piece is mostly homorhythmic and has a combination of polyphony and homophony. Occasionally there is a duet with the soprano and solo soprano lines. The piece is written in Latin, which was common practice for the time. There are no indicated dynamics, and there is use of musica ficta. In the transcription used in this paper, bar lines were added since almost none existed in the actual manuscript, and some corrections were made in the number of rests in some places in the score.
The psalm composed by Scarlatti, called Laetatus sum (Psalm 121), is set for four voices (SATB), continuo, and solo soprano and alto lines. This piece is also a part of the vesper psalms used in church. There is use of imitative polyphony within the chorus parts and within the solo lines, but the chorus lines and solo lines did not imitate eachother so in essence, the piece is a duet and a chorus piece put together. There is figured bass present throughout the psalm setting. The text is actually the text to psalm 122. There is octave doubling in the bass, and the fifth occurs often since it was considered to be perfect or somehow godly. What makes this psalm different from Scarlatti?s other psalms is that it is the only psalm that exhibits an organized concerto style. This psalm is also written in Latin, and has no indicated dynamics. It begins in D major, and switches to A and E major, and b and a minor throughout the setting, and ends back on D major. The piece does have some ornamentation, consisting of argued trills. The argument comes from odd markings on the original manuscript. Some people feel that the markings were just hastily drawn trills, while others feel they may actually be mordants. In the transcription listed here, they are all listed as trills. There probably was not a lot of ornamentation put into the music because there was an idea that if the music became too frilly it took away from the sacred message it was supposed to send.
While both pieces are a part of each composer?s library of sacred music, they are in some respects not very much alike and in others they are very similar. There are the obvious things they have in common such as the fact that they are written in Latin. That is not too suprising considering some churches still used Latin as the primary language in their services, even though in the Baroque period many churches began using the vernacular so the patrons would understand the services. Aside from that, Monteverdi, being more influenced by the Renaissance due to his time of birth, demonstrates music practices that are more indicative of the early Baroque with his use of homophony throughout his setting of Psalm 110. It is obvious that Monteverdi used a blend of ?old? and ?new? styles of writing music, which makes him one of the great pioneers in defining the Baroque period. Monteverdi also had musica ficta present in his music, which was not in practice by the end of the Baroque period and was really a ?leftover? from the Renaissance. Domenico Scarlatti demonstrates the advances made throughout the Baroque period in his piece. He is able to use leading tones and dissonance as a result of Monteverdi?s somewhat controversial composition style. It is hard to decide how really different the pieces really are because the Psalm was not each composer?s best known work, since both composers are best remembered for their secular pieces, although each spent time as the head of the music at some sort of church. Monteverdi is best known for his books of madrigals. Scarlatti is best known for his binary-form sets of sonatas he composed while living in Portugal.
There is no earth-shattering conclusion to be drawn from the comparison of these two pieces. The progression of the Baroque is duly noted, and each composer has his definite style. The nature of each piece is such that it is difficult to do anything besides note the differences, since the pieces are so similar. But perhaps that is what is most striking about the pieces. It is concluded that the pieces are similar because of the location of the composers in their formative years. It seems that indirectly Scarlatti may have learned a lot from Monteverdi, since Monteverdi?s ideas did become popular, so it may have been a bad idea to try to compare the two composers. Originally, the thought was that the composers would not be so much alike, since they belong to opposite ends of the Baroque period. It seems that just being from the same country influences how they write, even though both Monteverdi and Scarlatti had influences from other countries, and they were not even the same countries. It may be possible to track the progression of the Baroque by comparing any two pieces by two composers.
Fabbri,Paolo. Monteverdi. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 1994.
Kirkpatrick, Ralph. Domenico Scarlatti. Princeton:
Princeton University Press, 1953.
Leopold, Silke. Monteverdi: Music in Transition.
Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1991.
Monteverdi, Claudio. Rudolf Ewerhart, ed. Confitebor
tibi, Domine. Weisbaden: Breitkopf & Hartel, 1998.
Sadie, Stanley, ed. The New Grove Italian Baroque
Masters. London: W.W. Norton & Co., 1984.
Scarlatti, Domenico. Laetatus sum. Stuttgart: Carus
-Verlag, 1988.
Sitwell, Sacheverell. A Background for Domenico
Scarlatti. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1970.
Другие работы по теме:
The Power Of One One Person Can
Change The World Essay, Research Paper The Power Of One: One Person Can Change the World Dave Brown W. History per. 7 4/17/96 I believe very firmly that one person can change the world. That one
Lies And Deciet Essay Research Paper Lies
Lies And Deciet Essay, Research Paper Lies and Deceit Can you recall, at one time or another, being approached by a good friend or possibly an acquaintance with these opening lines, Let me tell you what I heard. William Shakespeare s Much Ado About Nothing, is a play primarily about gossip. The characters are constantly overhearing or spying on other people.
Much Ado About
‘Noting’ Essay, Research Paper Much Ado About Nothing is a play that centers around the question and battle between deception and reality. One first notices of the image of deception as we witness the masking and unmasking at the masquerade. In the play, most overhear discussions are deceptions. It is through eavesdropping that we see the true battle between deception and reality as we look at the subplots of Benedick and Beatrice, Hero and Claudio, as well as the comedy of Dogberry and his crew.
Don JohnThat Bastard Essay Research Paper Don
Don John-That Bastard Essay, Research Paper Don John-That BASTARD! Johann Kasper Lavater once said, The jealous are possessed by a mad devil and dull spirit at the same time. In Much Ado About Nothing, by William Shakespeare, the portrayal of Don John, the bastard brother of Don Pedro, demonstrates the true meaning of jealousy.
Muchadoaboutsomthing Essay Research Paper Sid PhilavanhHum 120Mr
Muchadoaboutsomthing Essay, Research Paper Sid Philavanh Hum. 120 Mr. Lewis Response Paper #3 Much Ado about Something My opinion about the movie, Much Ado about Nothing, is that it was a very good movie. This movie had just about everything that makes a movie good. It had drama, romance, action, and most importantly it had comedy.
Gender IssuesMacbeth Muchado Essay Research Paper
Gender issues are prevalent in Shakespeare s plays Much Ado About Nothing and Macbeth. Some of the key characteristics relevant to gender issues are masculinity, feminism, honor, bravery, and ambition. These issues will be examined through the dynamics of three couples, Hero and Claudio, Beatrice and Benedict, and Lady Macbeth and Macbeth.
A Misleading Duke Measure For Measure Essay
, Research Paper A Misleading Duke Through out William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, the Duke is misleading to all in the town. It all starts by him telling Angelo that he is tired of ruling, and wants to leave. He puts Angelo in charge and then leaves, or so Angelo thinks. He actually takes shelter at the church with the Friar so that he can watch Angelo.
Proposition 25 Essay Research Paper Proposition 25Prop
Proposition 25 Essay, Research Paper Proposition 25 Prop 25 is a proposition which was put on the ballot by petition signatures Prop 25 provides for public financing of candidate and ballot measure campaign costs, the disclosure of top contributors and fund raising time restrictions. Results of this would be that it establishes contributions, sets spending limits, and it bans corporate contributions.
Third Eye Blind Essay Research Paper Dr
Third Eye Blind Essay, Research Paper Dr. Ernest Everett Just, was born in 1883 and he died in 1941. He spent most of his life trying to understand the mystery of biology, being a biologist himself. He has many contributions to the branches of science, for instance the facts about fertilization and pointed the way toward a better knowledge of the way all cells work.
Act I Scene I Taming Of The
Shrew Essay, Research Paper Act I, scene I A messenger brings word to Leonato that Don Pedro of Aragon is passing through Messina on his return from a victorious
Intensional Or Accidental Similarities Of Romeo And
Juliet To Much Ado About Nothing Essay, Research Paper Intensional or Accidentall? Similarities between Romeo And Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing! There are many similarities between Shakespeare’s Much Ado About
Relationship Of Beatrice And Benedick In Act
Iv Scene I Of Much Ado About Nothing Essay, Research Paper Act IV scene i is a turning point for Beatrice and Bene*censored*. At the beginning of the play they both pronounce their desire to never marry. However, at this point in the play the two say that they are in love, when unbeknownst to them they have been tricked into loving each other.
Much Ado About Nothing 4 Essay Research
Paper William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing is a play involving by deception, disloyalty, trickery, eavesdropping, and hearsay. The play contains numerous examples of schemes that are used to manipulate the thoughts of other characters; it is the major theme that resonates throughout the play.
Much Ado About Nothingpairs Of Lovers Essay
, Research Paper Hero and Claudio represent an idealised love that was a very widespread image of love in the Elizabethan renaissance. With the introduction of Beatrice and Benedick, we see a very different picture- a love that thrives on conflict and tension. While Claudio says of Hero, Ў§Can the world buy such a gem,ЎЁ Benedick refers to Beatrice as Ў§my dear lady disdain.ЎЁ While Claudio and Hero whisper sweet nothings into each otherЎ¦s ears, Beatrice and Benedick bicker incessantly. (Compare Ў§My cousin tells him in his ear that he is in her heart.ЎЁ to Ў§if her breath were as terrible as her terminations, there were no living near her.ЎЁ) However, the play ultimately shows that Beatrice and BenedickЎ¦s relationship is the more genuine.
College Essay Essay Research Paper college essayLearning
College Essay Essay, Research Paper college essay Learning is a continuous process in life since we are constantly influenced by everything known and unknown around us. Whether one considers making learning a formal process by attending educational institutions and being recognized for their achievements, or informally, by their own inclination to learn, is a focal decision one eventually has to make.
The Title In Much Ado About Nothing
Essay, Research Paper Much Ado About Nothing exemplifies a kind of deliberately puzzling title that seems to have been popular in the late 1590s (compare, “As You Like It‰). Indeed, the play is about nothing; it merely follows the relationships of Claudio and Hero, and in the end, the play culminates in the two other main characters falling in love, which, because it was an event that was quite predictable, proves to be much ado about nothing.
Much Ado About Dogberry Essay Research Paper
In Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, there are many different subplots all taking place at the same time. There are several love stories, trickeries, and deceptions. Of all of them, though, one conflict
Relationships In Shakespeare
’s Much Ado About Nothing Essay, Research Paper Shakespeare’s play, Much Ado About Nothing, combines two very different love stories. The story of Hero and Claudia is a classic tale of love won, lost, and regained. The other story is the unlikely pairing of Beatrice and Benedick, who fight with each other to hide their true feelings.
The Role Of Love In Much Ado
About Nothing Essay, Research Paper The role of romantic love plays a central part in the plot of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. The way in which each character embraces the emotion shows a great deal about who they are, as well as the time in which they lived. Love, as defined by Shakespeare’s characters, differs greatly from my own definition.
Carl Pauling Essay Research Paper Carl PaulingCarl
Carl Pauling Essay, Research Paper Carl Pauling Carl Pauling was born Feb. 28, 1901 in Portland Oreg. He has made major contributions in structural chemistry and molecular biology. Linus Pauling became interested in biological molecules, and he preformed magnetic studies on oxygen-carrying hemoglobin molecules with C.
The Classical World Essay Research Paper The
The Classical World Essay, Research Paper The Classical World The Classical World made many contributions to the development of science, literature, and ethics. These contributions have influenced the modern world
Othello And Much Ado About Nothing Essay
, Research Paper The two villains in ?Much Ado About Nothing? and ?Othello? share much in common, despite their numerous differences. It is evident that Shakespeare
Romeo And Juliet Vs Much Ado About
Nothing Essay, Research Paper Romeo and Juliet vs Much Ado About Nothing As illustrated by the two plays Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing, William Shakespeare was a true romantic. In each play, his characters suffer great hardship, but in the end, he delivers them to a life of eternal love. Characters plot against each other in each play.
Character Analysis Of Benedick And Beatrice In
“Much Ado About Nothing” Essay, Research Paper In Much Ado About Nothing, most of the characters had interesting relationships with each other. For example, Hero and Claudio, were deeply in love. Also,
Compare Contrast The Love Between Claudio And
Hero Essay, Research Paper Compare/ contrast the love between Claudio and Hero with Beatrice and Bene*censored*. Whose is Stronger? The lovebetween Bene*censored* and Beatrice was much stronger than the love between Hero and Claudio. One reason Bene*censored* and Beatrice?s love was stronger because the way Hero and Claudio got together was not true love.
Music In The Ages Essay Research Paper
Early Baroque Period (1600 – 1680) The most important figure of the Early Baroque period was the Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi. He transformed music through his imaginative development of traditional forms. In particular, the dramatic styles of his madrigals (vocal compositions) anticipates the solo cantata and operatic recitative (a singing styles that resembles speech) of the Late Baroque period.
What Claudio Did For Love Essay Research
Paper “HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE?” “O, what men dare do! What men may do! What men daily do, not knowing what they do!” Funny how these words come from someone like Claudio and when you try to ponder on the words and look closely on the character of Claudio, you will realize that these lines aptly describe the actions and qualities possessed by Claudio himself.
Life Is Like Essay Research Paper Life
Life Is Like Essay, Research Paper Life is like a car. When it?s new, it usually works all right. As time drives by, it breaks down and needs repairs. Life is like a leaf. In its youth, it
Love And Marriage In Much Ado About
Nothing Essay, Research Paper Even though love and marriage was a major ideal in Shakespearean England, we can get views from Much Ado about nothing, which oppose this idea. From the two main ?couples? in this play we can