Farnese Palace and Gesu Church: Architecture & History
Farnese Palace
The facade, designed by Antonio da Sangallo, projects the grandeur of the palace, which was later completed by Michelangelo. The window cornice, supported on a bracket, gradually replaces the traditional capitals.
Medici Tomb in San Lorenzo
The pediment is also supported on cantilevers, a feature along with stipe, that slowly introduces elements typical of Mannerism.
Chiesa del Sacro Nome di Gesù, Rome
Church of the Gesù (Jesuits)
This church significantly influenced many churches of
Read MoreMozart vs. Beethoven: A Comparative Analysis
Mozart vs. Beethoven: A Comparison
Differences
Mozart: Sociable, cheerful, and a squanderer. He was a quick composer who rarely made rough drafts. He was married and died young. Although he suffered illnesses, his music never reflects this. His music is always perfectly balanced and harmonious. It seems to be understood by all people, as if he had managed to express something universal. Thanks to the perfect balance between expressivity and technique, he makes us feel what pure beauty is.
Beethoven:
Read MoreBaroque Music Forms: Basso Continuo, Suite, Sonata & Concerto
Basso Continuo
The Basso Continuo (BC) is a support system characteristic of the Baroque period. Composers wrote numbers on the bass line notes, indicating to the interpreters the line to be improvised. BC is not an instrument, but an accompanying musical technique that can be developed with any of the polyphonic instruments of the time. The most frequent were the harpsichord, organ, lute, and harp. The BC is present in chamber works (a sonata for flute and BC, for example) as well as orchestral
Read More16th-Century Renaissance: Literature, Context, and Genres
Renaissance Literature (16th Century)
Sociocultural Background
The Renaissance, a cultural, social, and artistic movement, emerged in Italy in the 15th century and spread throughout Europe in the 16th century. It marked a revival of Greco-Roman culture and significant social change compared to the Middle Ages.
Key aspects of the sociocultural context:
- A new social class arose: the bourgeoisie, composed of businessmen and artisans.
- The political system was absolutism.
- The economic system was expansionist
Opera’s Origins, Handel’s Vocals, and Bach’s Instrumental Works
The Birth of Opera
Born in Italy, opera has spread throughout the world. It has two primary origins:
- The madrigal, which, when represented, evolved into “drama in music” and later “opera in music.”
- The oratorio, a sacred drama that is not represented. The recitative is a “simple” form found in both the cantata and oratorio.
In Florence, under the Medici family, a group of musicians and poets, including Jacopo Peri (1561-1633), wrote “Daphne,” which premiered in 1597 with text by Ottavio Rinuccini and
Read MoreVivaldi’s Autumn & Bach’s Badinerie: Analysis
Vivaldi’s Autumn: Musical Analysis
In musical composition, it marks a ternary rhythm in a 3/8 beat, with an Allegro tempo. One hears a mechanical rhythm that produces great musical tension. The arrangement of the notes contributes to this auditory experience. The strong emphasis always falls on the first beat; it overlaps the machine effect.
The score was composed according to a source, from whose variations the rest of the composition is derived. The melody is tonal. The range of the solo violin
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