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Origins: Opera, Oratorio and Song.

 Two-Day Study Event for Classical Singers

I asked my AI Assistant for the following: Integrate research into the origins of song, including lute song, particularly sung in french, german, English and italian with the emergence of Opera and Oratorio. List relevant/prominent composers and note some favourite and popular arias of these early origins. Include a helpful timeline and anecdotal facts about how these different genres emerged, and the composers who dominated up to mid 19th century.

And ChatGPT gave me the following:

The history of song, particularly in French, German, English, and Italian traditions, is deeply interwoven with the evolution of opera and oratorio. From early folk and religious songs to courtly lute songs, through to the more elaborate forms of opera and oratorio, these musical genres reflect centuries of cultural development. Below is an integrated exploration of the origins of song, lute song, opera, and oratorio, with a helpful timeline, notable composers, and some popular arias.

Repertoire Selection Guidance: While our timeline offers a framework, the repertoire is entirely your choice. The musical journey will be yours to curate. 

Timeline Overview:

• Medieval Period (1100s–1400s): Emergence of troubadour and courtly songs in France and Germany.
• Renaissance (1400s–1600s): Development of lute songs in England and Italy, early madrigals, and polyphony.
• Baroque Period (1600s–1750): Birth of opera and oratorio in Italy and Germany.
• Classical Period (1750–1820): Opera and oratorio become formalized; art songs and lieder flourish.
• Romantic Period (1820–1850s): Expansion of song cycles and the rise of more emotionally expressive vocal music in all genres.

Origins of Song:

Medieval Period:

• French Chanson: The troubadours in southern France and the trouvères in northern France shaped early French song, which focused on themes of love, chivalry, and heroism. Guillaume de Machaut (1300–1377) was a central figure, composing monophonic and polyphonic songs. His chansons are among the earliest known forms of secular song.
• German Minnesang: In Germany, the Minnesänger were the German equivalent of the French troubadours, and their songs, known as Minnelieder, also focused on courtly love. Walther von der Vogelweide (1170–1230) is one of the most famous figures of this tradition.

Renaissance Period:

• English Lute Song: The English Renaissance gave rise to the lute song, a genre combining voice and lute, performed in courts and private settings. John Dowland (1563–1626) was the foremost composer, known for melancholy songs like Flow, my tears and Come again, sweet love.
• Italian Madrigal and Canzone: In Italy, madrigals were intricate polyphonic songs set to poetry, while the canzone referred to lighter secular songs. Luca Marenzio (1553–1599) and Claudio Monteverdi (1567–1643) were key composers, with Monteverdi later bridging the gap between song and the emerging genre of opera.
• French Chanson: In the Renaissance, the chanson developed into a more complex form, with composers like Clément Janequin (1485–1558) writing programmatic songs, such as Le Chant des Oiseaux.

Opera and Oratorio: The Baroque Birth (1600s–1750)

Opera Origins:

Opera, as a staged musical drama combining instrumental music, vocal performance, and acting, was born in Italy around 1600.

• Claudio Monteverdi is often credited with the first true opera, L'Orfeo (1607), which featured recitative (sung dialogue) and arias. His opera L'incoronazione di Poppea (1642) includes the famous duet Pur ti miro.
• Key Figures:
• Jacopo Peri: Composed Dafne (1597, lost) and Euridice (1600), regarded as the earliest operas.
• Francesco Cavalli: Monteverdi’s student who carried on the operatic tradition with works like Giasone (1649).

Oratorio Origins:

Oratorio developed slightly later as a form of religious or dramatic music performed without staging or costumes, often in church settings. It typically featured biblical stories.

• Giacomo Carissimi (1605–1674) was a central figure in early oratorio, with works like Jephte (1650), combining operatic elements with sacred themes.
• George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) became one of the most famous composers of oratorios, with Messiah (1741) remaining a cornerstone of the genre. Notable arias include Ev'ry valley shall be exalted and He was despised.

Prominent Composers and Popular Arias (1600s–1850s):

1. Claudio Monteverdi (1567–1643):
• Opera: L'Orfeo (1607).
• Famous Aria: Possente spirto from L'Orfeo – one of the earliest operatic masterpieces.
• Fact: Monteverdi bridged Renaissance polyphony and Baroque monody (solo vocal style), greatly influencing the future of opera.
2. Henry Purcell (1659–1695):
• Opera: Dido and Aeneas (1689).
• Famous Aria: When I am laid in earth (Dido's Lament) – an iconic piece of English opera.
• Fact: Purcell’s operas, despite being in English, were highly influenced by Italian and French traditions.
3. George Frideric Handel (1685–1759):
• Oratorio: Messiah (1741).
• Famous Arias: Ev'ry valley shall be exalted (tenor), He was despised (alto).
• Fact: Handel also composed operas but is better remembered for his oratorios, which blended dramatic narrative and sacred texts.
4. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750):
• Oratorio: Christmas Oratorio (1734).
• Famous Aria: Schlafe, mein Liebster from the Christmas Oratorio.
• Fact: Bach's sacred oratorios and cantatas elevated the oratorio form with complex counterpoint and emotional depth.
5. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791):
• Opera: Don Giovanni (1787), The Magic Flute (1791).
• Famous Arias: Là ci darem la mano from Don Giovanni, Der Hölle Rache from The Magic Flute.
• Fact: Mozart’s operas blended serious and comic elements, solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest operatic composers.
6. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827):
• Oratorio: Christ on the Mount of Olives (1803).
• Fact: Though better known for his symphonies, Beethoven composed an oratorio early in his career, focusing on the emotional intensity of Christ’s final hours.
7. Franz Schubert (1797–1828):
• Lieder: Erlkönig (1815), Gretchen am Spinnrade (1814).
• Fact: Schubert’s contributions to German lied were unparalleled, setting the foundation for the genre's 19th-century development.

Emergence of Romantic Song (1820s–1850s):

• Lieder and Song Cycles: By the early 19th century, song cycles became an important form of vocal music, with composers like Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann creating cycles that explored deeply personal and emotional narratives. Schubert’s Winterreise (1828) is a defining work of the genre.
• Romantic Opera and Bel Canto: In Italy, the bel canto tradition flourished, with composers like Gioachino Rossini, Gaetano Donizetti, and Vincenzo Bellini writing operas that emphasized virtuosic singing. Popular arias from this period include Una voce poco fa from Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia (1816).

Conclusion:

From the medieval songs of troubadours and lute songs of the Renaissance to the grandeur of Baroque opera and oratorio, the history of song is one of continual innovation and emotional depth. The early origins of French, German, English, and Italian song shaped the genres of opera and oratorio, giving rise to some of the most beloved arias and vocal music that continue to be celebrated today.

See you inside ...

Join me in The Green Room for all the study weekend early discussion and build-up. It's a private Facebook group that I still like to use, and if you're not already there, I'll begin to send out invitations to join as soon as a few singers are waiting to get in and declare their music choices!