Vocal vibrato in the interpretation of vocal music of the baroque epoch

The purpose of the article. The article examines an important component of the performance of baroque works – vocal vibrato, which often becomes an obstacle to the historically informed performance. A scholarly work that draws on a historical context outlines guidelines regarding the appropriateness of the use of vibrato. The methodology is based on the application of observation, generalization, modeling, and analysis using the historical and logical method. The indicated approach allows us to consider, generalize and summarize information about vocal vibrato, which can be useful both for students and teachers of academic singing and for performers who are looking for answers to questions regarding mastering baroque vocal forms and techniques. The scientific novelty consists in the fact that the data on the vocal vibrato is systematized and analyzed based on historical sources, research by leading foreign art historians, as well as on recordings of ancient works. Highlighted important questions concerning the appropriateness of using vibrato in baroque music. Conclusions. When mastering the vocal techniques for performing musical works of the Baroque era, vibrato issues occupy one of the main places. The use or limitation of this characteristic of the voice must be considered from the point of view of the historical context of the works performed, as well as their content. In addition to high-level technical training, the intellectual qualities, the ability to think analytically, erudition, and musical taste of the performer play an important role. Keywords: vibrato, baroque music, historically informed performance, ornamentation.

Performance Composition of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Motets: Hypotheses and Discussions

Relevance and scientific novelty of the selected topic of the research. The issues of the performance of J. S. Bach's motets has not been considered in Ukrainian musicology before, and in creative practice it has been decided unequivocally: choirs sang motets a cappella. However, in the world practice of motets today there are three variants of performance: in addition to singing unaccompanied, motets are performed with basso continuo (organ), as well as with basso continuo accompanied by instruments that duplicate choral parts (colla parte). The revision of performance approaches in world concert practice took place in parallel and, apparently, due to scientific achievements in the history of music, source studies and related fields. Cognitive was the discussion of the performance of Bach's motets, which for a long time (since 1904) unfolded in the Germanspeaking musicological environment. A thorough analysis of the historical context, the text of the motets, the connection with the performing practice, and on the other hand — the limited opportunity to get acquainted with German-language materials determine the relevance of this article, which systematizes the arguments and counterarguments of this controversy. The aim of the article is to consider the arguments of German scientists (Konrad Ameln, Klaus Hofmann, Alfred Heuss and others) on the tradition of performances of motets by J. S. Bach, to draw the attention of the performing and scientific community to the possibility of the existence of different versions of the performing composition in these works; emphasize the need for a performing search in the field of baroque music, in particular, in those aspects, which in the classicalromantic tradition are considered unambiguously fixed in the musical text. The following methods were used in the study: historical (analysed the dynamics of changes in the performing tradition of Bach's motets), the method of generalization (based on the study of musicological literature generalized arguments in favour of three types of performing motets). Main results and conclusions. Based on the analysis of information from German-language musicological research, it is stated that in the time of Bach there were three types of performance for his motets: 1) a cappella, 2) with basso continuo, 3) with basso continuo and instruments colla parte. Arguments for each type are systematized depending on whether they come from the study of historical context (external) or based on the study of the original musical text of motets (internal). It is noted that the plurality of variants of the performance composition allowed in today's practice should be realized by the conductor, who should not unconditionally accept the performance version proposed in the motets edition as the only correct one. The choice of performance is made by the conductor depending on the specifics of the performance situation.

A Reconstruction of Late Renaissance Music in Nono's Prometeo

This paper attempts to stress that the composer Luigi Nono never overlooked early music, particularly Renaissance music, and his avant-garde works were created on the basis of late Renaissance and early Baroque music. Furthermore, this paper has tried to shed light on the relationship between music and space, which was an essential parameter of musical composition in the twentieth century as well as in the Renaissance. The sound modulated by live electronics transports the listener into synesthetic and perceptive listening and sonic space. As a result, it is demonstrated that Nono indicated the power and fascination of the voice, the polychoral structure, and the influence of the interaction between sound and space in his Prometeo.

Rethinking Affect

This chapter rethinks affect, one of the key constituents of musical aesthetics in Bach’s time. Interrogating the musicological concept of Affektenlehre, it addresses musical affect as a new perspective on what musicology has tended to isolate historically under the umbrella of German Baroque rhetoric. The first paragraphs sketch a historiography of hermeneutic views of the Affektenlehre and address the criticisms that this approach has encountered. Based on a rereading of historical sources, the chapter investigates the ways in which twentieth-century musicologists developed views on affect in German Baroque music, the relation of these views to the historical situation, and their role in Bach studies. Taking into account early modern affect theories as well as the modern philosophies of affect based upon them, the final paragraphs aim to achieve an understanding of affect that is more in line with contemporary musical practice and theory.

The role of key IN CREATING AN INTERPRETATIONAL model in Baroque music (based on French Suite in D minor by J. S. Bach)

Background. For anyone creating his own interpretational version of a work which belongs to Baroque culture it is highly important to understand semantics of a given key, which in this day and age becomes a valuable asset to reveal the composer’s intention, including the works like French Suite in D minor by J. S.Bach. The approach, suggested in the article, elaborates existing studies, providing them with new meaning. The aim of the article is to reveal the significance of a key in the Baroque music, particularly in J. S. Bach’s works, as a premise for present-day musicians creating new versions of performance. Methodology of a research is founded on historically-theoretical and interpretational methods of analysis. Results. The genre of a keyboard suite holds an important place in J. S. Bach’s legacy. French Suite in D minor is the first one among others. Allemande is written in accordance with the customs of their time. At the same time, tonal development of each movement reflects general aesthetic principles of movement, realizing pivotal idea of the genre. The change in tonal reference points, which happens in the frameworks of Tonic – Dominant relations, shows diverse colours and tension of the development within one key. Allemande’s harmonic complexity exposes semantical sense of the key, which influences other dances. Sarabande is presented as a concentration of ‘funebre’ lyricism, the sense of Gigue is reconstructed due to the change of expected time signature 3/8 to 4/4 and usage of pulsating dotted notes. Courante and two Menuettos are marked by a certain simplicity and “transfiguration” of musical language, which causes not only a genre, but also imagery and semantical contrast. French Suite in D minor is a relatively difficult material for creation of performer’s interpretation. Contrasts of tempo and mood of the dances typical for this genre are not so obvious in this suite as compared to other J. S. Bach’s suites in minor keys. General atmosphere of reserve and inner tension is stressed by the key of D minor, which shapes the whole cycle’s character. Conclusions. The above mentioned peculiarities of J. S. Bach’s French Suite in D minor define the performance interpretation, designed to reveal dialectic unity of opposites in compositionally-dramaturgical structure of the Suite. The performer chooses means, aimed both at creation of macro-unity and at reveal of typological features of the suite genre which is based on contrast. One of the main factors contributing to unity is tempo of performance: apart from quite similar tempos of Allemande and Courante, Gigue is noteworthy, too, as its tempo due to peculiarity of melody and pathos, uncommon for the genre, is “decelerated” in a natural way. Suite contrast can be revealed through articulation and touche, as well as through tempo in view of singularity of Sarabande. Basing on the piece under analysis, we may state that in Baroque era D minor key was already interpreted as a bearer of complex and profound meaning, devoid of mundane, as a subjective key, retaining, however, possibility to be used to reveal objective generalising senses. Thus, we think it should be a “zone of special attention” for performers.

G. Ph. Telemann’s Concertos for Four Violins withoutbassocontinuoin the aspect of onomatopoeic and figurative rhetoric

Statement of the problem. In musicology there has long been a tacit belief that Baroque music is the music of rhetoric, rhetorical figures and affects. In Baroque aesthetics, rhetoric, which is an important element of Baroque poetics, is perceived as an integral part of the content of a musical piece that together with form, harmony, counterpoint and musical expression form its integral substance. The study of Baroque music from the perspective of the rhetorical aspect gives a clearer comprehension of the work, understanding the context, and the competent interpretation of the composer’s idea. Analysis of recent research and publication. The theoretical assumptions of this article are based both on historical treatises (M. Praetorius, Ch. Bernhard, J. Mattheson) and authoritative works of researchers who studied theoretical issues of historically informed performance of the late XX – early XXI century (D. Bartel, L. Dreyfus), including relatively new works (M. Zgółka, P. Zawistowski, A. Mocek). M. Zgółka (2016) adopts a rather traditional approach to rhetoric, which operates with rhetorical figures and affects, and at the same time offers an innovative division of rhetoric into three varieties. Referring to the most important treatises L. Dreyfus (2004) makes us think about the relevance of making parallels between oratory and musical rhetoric highlighting common features and differences. A. Mocek’s (2019) view on musical rhetoric and on the studies devoted to it is quite critical. The main objective of the study is to examine G. Ph. Telemann’s Concertos for Four Violins without basso continuo from the perspective of figurative and onomatopoeic rhetoric. The scientific novelty. In this research for the first time, Telemann’s Concertos were analyzed from the perspective of onomatopoeic and figurative rhetoric. The concept of division of rhetoric into three categories (onomatopoeic, figurative, symbolically mystical) was proposed by the Polish violinist and theorist M. Zgółka (2016). The author uses the following methods in this research: historical, typological, comparative and structural-functional analysis. Results. The analysis of four concertos demonstrates that G. Ph. Telemann uses not only figurative type of rhetoric but also onomatopoeic, successfully combining these two categories. In comparison with, for example, A. Vivaldi or H. I. F. von Biber, the palette of sound imitative techniques in the concertos of G. Ph. Telemann is not so diverse and comprehensive, however, elements of onomatopoeic rhetoric can be found both in fast and slow movements: sound of organ or bells as well as sound images of nature. The composer does not refuse from the elements of figurative rhetoric. Like in his duo sonatas, these are mainly represented by figures that describe a melodic motion. Such techniques are often found in polyphonic quick movements. In the lyrical slow movements, similarly to the duo sonatas, harmony, polyphony and intervals are brought to the fore. Conclusions. G. Ph. Telemann’s cycle of Concertos for Four Violins without continuo is an interesting example of chamber music not only in terms of composition but also from the view point of the usage and combination of various types of musical rhetoric. Knowledge of the rhetorical component brings researchers and performers to a new, more comprehensive level of understanding of the composer’s music, allowing us to consider the emotional content not only of the work as a whole, but also of each single intonation.

Doctrine of Affections

The “doctrine of affections” is a legendary creature created by early-20th-century German musicologists: its head is made of prescriptive treatises and its body of descriptive compositions. The term has however entered scholarly parlance and is commonly used to refer to a cluster of theorizations and compositional strategies that shared a common aim: emphasizing the affective dimension of music in order to move the listener. The “doctrine of affections” derives its name from the German term Affektenlehre and it lived its golden age in the Baroque era (see the Oxford Bibliographies article on Baroque Music and its section “Music-Theoretical Issues”). It merges a renewed humanistic interest in the ars rhetorica, ensued to the rediscovery of texts such as Quintilian’s Institutio Oratoria during the 15th century, with an interest in the mechanics of the passions, fostered by Descartes’ Passions de l’âme (1649). The power of music to raise or soothe the passions had already been discussed by philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle (the latter’s theory of catharsis proving especially successful during the Renaissance), and in some sense “doctrines of affections” have often accompanied the history of thinking about music and its effects. However the “doctrine of affections” stricto sensu is tied to the revival of doctrines of musical ethos by the humanists, in combination with medical elements derived from galenic temperament theory and with the idea of musica humana derived from Boethius (Ficino’s theories being a notable example of this combination). Baroque doctrines of affections, while deriving some themes—such as the link between modes and affects—from these former traditions, modified their gravity center. From a Renaissance medical model interested in the bodily transformations induced by music, the focus shifts to a rhetorical model interested in producing determinate effects on the listeners in the orator’s mode. During the 16th and 17th centuries, from the philosophical upsurge of interest in passions themselves and in their communicability and from the coeval transformations in musical compositional techniques, a renovated rhetorical discourse on affective music and its relation to the poetical texts was drafted. Drawing on the speculations of authors like Descartes, Mersenne, and Kircher, 18th-century theorists tried to single out the affective power of modes and figures, albeit without creating universal theories. These musico-rhetorical theories dawned when a new way of addressing the world of the passions and affections was devised later in the 18th century.

The Use of Baroque Music in Films and De Wit's “The Monk and The Fish”

Bu makale Barok müziğin filmlerde kullanım amacını ve filmlerde görsellerle ilişkisini araştırmaktadır. Sanat bağlamında Barok terimini kısaca tanımladıktan sonra, önceki akademik araştırmalara atıfta bulunarak Barok müziğin sanatsal filmlerde kullanılmasından bahsedilecektir. Bu şekilde, akademisyenlerin genellikle filmlerde müzik veya klasik müzik üzerine araştırma yaptıkları alandaki bir boşluk doldurulacaktır. Dahası, Barok müzik genellikle filmlerde tam senkronizasyondan ziyade görseller için bir arka plan öğesidir. Genel bir sonuca varmadan önce, Michel Dudok de Wit’in ödüllü animasyon filmi The Monk and the Fish (Keşiş ve Balık, 1994) burada ana odak noktası olacaktır. Çünkü bu filmde Barok bir müzik parçası olan Arcangelo Corelli’nin La Follia’sının yorumlanmış bir versiyonu çoğunlukla görsellerle senkronizedir.