3. BAROQUE

2. PROFANE VOCAL MUSIC

Opera was the main profane vocal form and it was written for orchestra, choir and soloists. Origin: In the early 17th century in Florence, a group of intellectuals around Count Bardi, called Camerata Fiorentina, decided to revive Greek classical theatre, which combined poetry, music and dance.
The first preserved opera is Euridice by Jacopo Peri (1600).
The first important opera is L’Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi (1607).
Fundamental parts of an opera: Choruses and ballets were included occassionally.
- Recitative: vocal opera part between spoken word and singing that facilitates the progress of the plot.
- Aria: melodic vocal opera part sung by a soloist to express emotions and demonstrate his/her skills.
- Overture: instrumental opera part that serves as introduction announcing the beginning of the opera.
- Interludes: instrumental opera parts that link the different sections together.

The castrati were famous male singers generally from the poorer classes chosen for the beauty of their voices. They were castrated before puberty to preserve their child's voices, but with all the lung capacity of an adult male. They became the first music idols in history. The most famous castrato was Farinelli, and there were other well known castrati such as Ferri, Senesino and Pacchierotti.