* not completed

. Consider the following statement and choose the best response: "In "La ci darem la mano" from Don Giovanni, one of Mozart's most famous melodies, the composer uses the slightly longer length of the woman's first melodic statement to indicate her hesitance and the ensuing increase in tempo in the man's music to indicate his growing insistence as he tries to seduce her."

The statement is true. correct incorrect

The statement is false because this aria is from Cosi fan tutte. correct incorrect

The statement is false because the composer uses Sprechstimme to indicate the woman's hesitance. correct incorrect

The statement is false because the man is trying to convince her to help him rob the local church, not attempting a seduction. correct incorrect

* not completed

. Which statement about the origins of opera is NOT true?

The original style of operatic writing was strictly recitative correct incorrect

Opera began in Florence, Italy in the 16th century correct incorrect

A group of clergy and artists called the "Camerata" created opera correct incorrect

The first composers of opera wanted to create a dramatic presentation in line with those of ancient Greece correct incorrect

* not completed

. Consider the following statement and choose the best response: "Jacopo Peri's Euridice, the earliest opera of which we are aware, was unusual for early operas in that it was written for a ceremonial occasion, in this case a politically important wedding."

The statement is true. correct incorrect

The statement is false because the opera in question was entitled Andromedae. correct incorrect

The statement is false because many early operas were written for ceremonial occasions. correct incorrect

The statement is false because the occasion for which this opera was written was a coronation, not a wedding. correct incorrect

* not completed

. Which statement about Wagner's life and career is NOT true?

His first successful opera, Rienzi, was produced in 1842. correct incorrect

Wagner abandoned the alternation of aria and recitative in favor of a continuous stream of melody. correct incorrect

King Ludwig of Bavaria funded much of Wagner's later work. correct incorrect

Wagner was conductor of the Leipzig opera house for six years. correct incorrect

* not completed

. This Classical composer's many works in the "opera seria" genre are largely unperformed today, as they were written specifically to satisfy the tastes of his noble patron.

Mozart correct incorrect

Handel correct incorrect

Haydn correct incorrect

Beethoven correct incorrect

* not completed

. An opera in French that featured lavish sets, complicated dance scenes, and strongly French nationalist narrative overtones is likely a part of what operatic tradition?

Modern neo-Romanticism correct incorrect

Romantic grand opera correct incorrect

Baroque opera seria correct incorrect

Baroque opera buffa correct incorrect

* not completed

. Which opera is NOT correctly paired with a modern work that borrows its thematic content?

Rent / La Boheme correct incorrect

Lord of the Rings / The Chronicles of Narnia correct incorrect

Miss Saigon / Madame Butterfly correct incorrect

Pretty Woman / La traviata correct incorrect

* not completed

. Which is an example of a verismo plot?

The story of Moses and Pharaoh from the Old Testament of the Bible correct incorrect

The story of Hannibal crossing the Alps correct incorrect

A poor fisherman catches his wife cheating on him correct incorrect

A savvy kitchen-maid tricks the lord of the manor into marrying her correct incorrect

* not completed

. Throughout the 19th century, composers gradually did what with the traditional concepts of recitative and aria?

They created increasingly elaborate sets of rules about how they were to be used. correct incorrect

They removed recitative in favor of spoken dialogue, while decreasing the average length of arias. correct incorrect

They tended toward unaccompanied recitative except at moments of great passion; arias, by and large, did not evolve in the 19^th century. correct incorrect

They fused them into continuously unfolding music. correct incorrect

* not completed

. Which of the following composers is NOT considered one of the three greatest early composers of opera?

Henry Purcell correct incorrect

Giacomo Puccini correct incorrect

Claudio Monteverdi correct incorrect

George F. Handel correct incorrect

* not completed

. In "Tu se' morta" from Monteverdi's Orfeo, the composer sets the words for "stars" and "sun" on higher notes in an example of what common musical technique?

Word painting correct incorrect

Recitative correct incorrect

Ritornello correct incorrect

Accompaniment correct incorrect

* not completed

. Which statement about Handel's career is NOT true?

Most of Handel's best-known operas were written in Vienna. correct incorrect

Handel's operas are those heard most from the Baroque era. correct incorrect

Julius Caesar, written in 1724, is one of Handel's best operas and a good example of opera seria. correct incorrect

None of the above. correct incorrect

* not completed

. Which description fits the melody of "A Modern Major General" from Pirates of Penzance and is not uncommon for melodies from satirical operettas?

Varied-each statement of the melody differs significantly from the initial episode correct incorrect

Free-metered-no steady rhythm correct incorrect

Lyrical-broad, sweeping lines correct incorrect

Repetitive-mostly on the same two notes throughout correct incorrect

* not completed

. What is the function of the ritornello in "La donna e mobile" from Rigoletto?

To create a lilting rhythmic quality correct incorrect

To tie the aria together correct incorrect

To portray the character's attitude toward people of lower classes correct incorrect

None of the above correct incorrect

* not completed

. Der Freischutz by ___ is one of the most influential German operas of the Romantic era; like many of his works, this piece is based on ___.

Beethoven / classical history, specifically the conquest of the Germanic barbarians correct incorrect

Mozart / verismo correct incorrect

Weber / folklore and the supernatural correct incorrect

Wagner / pre-Christian mythology correct incorrect