History of Opera (Music 523A)

Sample Exam with Answers (2009)

This exam is designed to be completed in one hour. Please read the instructions carefully and be sure to allow sufficient time to complete each section.

I. Identifications. In one or two sentences, please identify or characterize the following, including historical figures, important compositions, and dates, where relevant (5 points each):

1. Le nuove musiche — collection of monodies, composed by Caccini, published in 1602, includes preface with discussion of performance practice

2. Giulio Rospigliosi — Italian librettist, Roman opera, "Il Sant' Alessio" (Landi, 1631)

II. Short Answers. In a few sentences or a paragraph, please respond to the following (15 points each):

(a) Discuss briefly two of the musical techniques or styles that Monteverdi brings together in his Orfeo. (b) Provide examples of each of these from the work (be as specific as possible when describing them). (c) Discuss briefly how Orfeo fits into Monteverdi's career (be sure to provide people, places, and dates as appropriate).

(a) Techniques can include musical organization, stile rappresentativo, aria, strophic variation, madrigal [be sure to describe the technique]. (b) Musical examples should be precise ("Orfeo's aria at the beginning of Act II is strophic, four verses with ritornello"). (c) "Orfeo was composed in 1607 for the court in Mantua, where Monteverdi was employed until about 1612. It was one of two operas composed for court (the other was "Arianna," 1608). The Duke of Mantua attended the Royal wedding in Florence at which "Euridice" was performed (1600), and that might have been a motivation for Monteverdi's opera on the same subject."

III. Listening. Three musical excerpts will be heard twice. For each, please provide the following information (10 points for each excerpt):

(a) the composer

(b) the title of the work, with date of first performance

(c) the character who is singing and the dramatic action that takes place

(a) Monteverdi

(b) Orfeo (1607)

(c) [should be specific to the excerpt played:] Orfeo is singing of his joy over his marriage to Euridice.