MSMUS 571 — Early Music Vocal Literature

2 credits
Fall
Avi Stein

A performance-based seminar surveying vocal literature from the early 17th century through the mid-18th century. Genres to be covered include solo songs with continuo accompaniment, opera, oratorio, and the 18th-century cantata. Assigned works will be studied through in-class performance and detailed discussion of historical context, parallel instrumental trends, and performance practice including discussion of recitative and ornamentation. This course is open to third- and fourth-year undergraduate voice students, graduate voice students, as well as players of continuo instruments. Other students may be enrolled with the permission of the instructor.