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Purcell: Dido and Aeneas
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Dido and Aeneas
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
* Purcell's only 'real' opera
* The first known performance was at Josias Priest's girls' school in London no later than the summer of 1688.
* The libretto was written by Nahum Tate, an Irish poet, hymnist and lyricist, who became England's poet laureate in 1692.
Dido's Lament - Alison Moyet
Malena Ernman as Dido
Basic synopsis...
* One of the greatest English composers of the 17th Century
* Worked at the court of King Charles II
* Composed music for church and theatre
* Composed several 'semi-operas' which were more popular than Italian opera, including 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and 'The Prophetess'
Musical features:
'Thy Hand, Belinda'
and
'When I am Laid in Earth'
Queen Dido of Carthage falls in love with Trojan hero Aeneas.
He is tricked into deserting her by evil forces.
Dido is bereft and kills herself.
Dido's lament - Jeff Buckley
* The recitative and aria ‘Thy Hand, Belinda’ and ‘When I am Laid in Earth’ are both in one Affekt (emotion) – deep melancholy
* It is based on a ‘ground bass’
* Written with ‘figured bass’
* Uses period instruments
* Melody-dominated homophony
Conclusion
Prior knowledge...
KEY VOCABULARY...
RECITATIVE
ARIA
AFFEKT
GROUND BASS
FIGURED BASS
MELODY-DOMINATED HOMOPHONY
1. What is an opera?
2. What are the musical characteristics of the Baroque period?
3. What are the approximate years of the Baroque period?
Homework... Research and write your own definition of each of the above.
REMINDER...
Dido and Aeneas
1. An Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text (called a libretto) and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting.
2. MELODY: A single melodic idea. RHYTHM: Continuous rhythmic drive.
TEXTURE: Balance of Homophonic (melody with chordal harmony) and polyphonic textures.
TIMBRE: Orchestral - strings, wind and harpsichord with very little percussion.
DYNAMICS: Abrupt shifts from loud to soft - achieved by adding or subtracting instruments.
An overall characteristic of Baroque Music is that a single musical piece tended to project a single mood or expression of feeling.
3. 1600-1750