Purcell Dido and aeneas an opera How is it evident that Dido and Aeneas was written in the style suitable for English Masque theatre? By. Anika Brand and norisuke iwahashi

What is an english masque A form of entertainment, involving costumes, scenery, dances, music and poetry, that flourished in England in Tudor and Stuart times (esp ). A form of entertainment, involving costumes, scenery, dances, music and poetry, that flourished in England in Tudor and Stuart times (esp ). The subject matter was usually mythological, allegorical, or heroic. The subject matter was usually mythological, allegorical, or heroic. Its musical characteristics: Its musical characteristics: consists of many dances. consists of many dances. has episodic structure. has episodic structure. affectation of key is evident. affectation of key is evident. sectionalisation of harmony. sectionalisation of harmony. musical declamentation. musical declamentation.

Content Mythological Mythological The characters are from Greek mythology. The account of the story is given by the Roman poet Virgil in his Aeneid. The characters are from Greek mythology. The account of the story is given by the Roman poet Virgil in his Aeneid. Speech rhythms Speech rhythms Syllabic and melithmatic Syllabic and melithmatic Long and short vowels Long and short vowels Word paintings Word paintings ‘storm’, ‘fierce’ and ‘valour’(‘Whence could so much virtue spring’) ‘storm’, ‘fierce’ and ‘valour’(‘Whence could so much virtue spring’) Declamentation is tied together harmonically  tonal sense and reflects dramatic situation. Declamentation is tied together harmonically  tonal sense and reflects dramatic situation. Musical declamentation

structure The opera is in an episodic structure, as a typical English Masque piece i.e. consists of many pieces, which each can function as an individual complete piece. The opera is in an episodic structure, as a typical English Masque piece i.e. consists of many pieces, which each can function as an individual complete piece. Dances (ballet) are placed in between the beginning and the end of acts (More a theatrical purpose). e.g. The Triumphing Dance in Act I, Echo Dance of Furies in Act II, scene i Dances (ballet) are placed in between the beginning and the end of acts (More a theatrical purpose). e.g. The Triumphing Dance in Act I, Echo Dance of Furies in Act II, scene i Many of Purcell’s dances follow the features of French dances which are especially significant in Lully’s works. The features of Lullian dances are: slow tempo, dotted rhythm and homophonic texture. Many of Purcell’s dances follow the features of French dances which are especially significant in Lully’s works. The features of Lullian dances are: slow tempo, dotted rhythm and homophonic texture.

Harmony & key signature EXAMPLE: Whence could so much virtue spring. EXAMPLE: Whence could so much virtue spring. Harmonically: the piece originally starts from C minor, then resolutes into more G Major (b.2 3, p94. Harris). ‘Anchies’ valour’ (b ) is in C Major, then F Major in ‘Venus’ charms, how soft’ (b ). Harmonically: the piece originally starts from C minor, then resolutes into more G Major (b.2 3, p94. Harris). ‘Anchies’ valour’ (b ) is in C Major, then F Major in ‘Venus’ charms, how soft’ (b ). i.e. frequent modulations and accidentals occur. i.e. frequent modulations and accidentals occur. But the C harmony dominates throughout. But the C harmony dominates throughout. These features show the song is a carefully and strictly measured declamatory song. These features show the song is a carefully and strictly measured declamatory song.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Harris, Ellen T. Henry Purcell’s DIDO and AENEAS. Clarendon Paperbacks UK. Harris, Ellen T. Henry Purcell’s DIDO and AENEAS. Clarendon Paperbacks UK. Purcell, Henry. Edited by Price, Curtis. Dido and Aeneas, An Opera. Norton Critical Scores USA. Purcell, Henry. Edited by Price, Curtis. Dido and Aeneas, An Opera. Norton Critical Scores USA. Green, Alison. Dress and Décor: The Baroque and Rococo Style – Summary. (12/02/09; e_rococo_summary.htm) Green, Alison. Dress and Décor: The Baroque and Rococo Style – Summary. (12/02/09; e_rococo_summary.htm) e_rococo_summary.htm e_rococo_summary.htm