cantatas
Sung narrative works
Cantatas are vocal compositions with instrumental accompaniment, typically featuring multiple movements with arias, recitatives, and choruses.
The form flourished in the Baroque period, particularly in sacred settings—Bach's church cantatas remain central to the repertoire.
Secular cantatas also exist, often telling dramatic stories without staging: The choir performed a cantata for Easter Sunday.
Highest female voice range
- altoLower female voice
- tenorEssential meaning or import
- bassDeep pitch or fish
- choraleHymn tune or choir
recitative · aria · duet · chorus · ensemble · soloist · coloratura · melisma
Unstaged sacred choral work
- ariaOperatic solo piece
- recitativeSpeechlike operatic singing
- da capoMusical repeat instruction
- librettoOpera's written words
harpsichord · counterpoint · Handel · Vivaldi · Scarlatti · Monteverdi · Purcell
Catholic worship service
- PassionPowerful consuming emotion
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- vespersEvening devotional service
- psalmsReligious songs of praise
hymns · chorale · worship · devotion · gospel · sermon · sanctuary · divine
Large instrumental ensemble
- stringsThin flexible lines
- continuoBaroque harmonic foundation
- oboeTwin-reed wind instrument
- trumpetValved brass wind instrument
flute · violin · cello · organ · harpsichord · bassoon · horn · timpani
Festive event marking occasion
- commemorationAct of honoring memory
- court musicCompositions for royalty
- theatricalExaggeratedly emotional for effect
- dramaticStrikingly expressive or sudden
soprano
Highest female voice range
chorale · recitative · aria · duet · chorus · ensemble · soloist · coloratura · melisma · libretto
oratorio
Unstaged sacred choral work
- ariaOperatic solo piece
- recitativeSpeechlike operatic singing
- da capoMusical repeat instruction
libretto · harpsichord · counterpoint · Handel · Vivaldi · Scarlatti · Monteverdi · Purcell
Mass
Catholic worship service
psalms · hymns · chorale · worship · devotion · gospel · sermon · sanctuary · divine · benediction
orchestra
Large instrumental ensemble
trumpet · flute · violin · cello · organ · harpsichord · bassoon · horn · timpani · obbligato
Brandenburg Concertos
Bach's six orchestral works
- LeipzigMajor Saxon metropolis
celebration
Festive event marking occasion
- commemorationAct of honoring memory
- court musicCompositions for royalty
- theatricalExaggeratedly emotional for effect
dramatic · pastoral · allegorical · mythological · congratulatory
- classical musicBach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms
- vocal musicsong, vocals, soprano, tenor, alto
- worksmasterpieces, compositions, piece, pieces, work
- Baroquebaroque music, baroque art, Bernini, Bach, Handel
- sacred musichymns, hymn, anthem, anthems, gospel
- choral musicchoral music, choral works, choral arrangements, choral arrangement, choir arrangements
cantatassymphonies
Extended compositions for orchestra
sonatas · concertos · instrumental music · fugues · chamber music