JacquetdelaGuerrewas considered an avant-gardecomposer for her infusion of some Italian emotional "heat" into the cool French style of instrumental and vocal music of her time.Her cantatas--mini operas for solo voice and instruments--,while not normally reaching the fever pitch of the finest of BarbaraStrozzi'scantatas, are warmer in emotion and tone than those of her contemporaries.
Jacquetwrote several cantatas on important female figures and heroines of the Hebrew Bible/"Old Testament," like Susanna, Judith, Esther, and Rachel. She also wrote cantatas on mythological themes, similar to those still called upon dependably in the operas and opera-ballets of her day. These cantatas, interspersed with instrumental sections, or "symphonies," were like mini-operas for accomplished female singers, in the manner of BarbaraStrozziand, later, the composers of the High Baroque like Vivaldi and Handel.
Here is her cantata "LaSommeild'Ulisse" [The sleep of Ulysses] (1715) for soprano voice, accompanied by flute, violin, harpsichord and bass instrument (cello or violadagamba). AnnotatedFrench text and translation are attached.
This is an episode from Homer'sOdyssey. Ulysses (Odysseus) is attempting to return home from the Trojan War. He and his men have escaped or overcome many dangers on the sea, but now an angry Neptune (god of the sea) has spotted the hero's ship. He seeks revenge for his son Polyphemus, whom Ulysses has blinded with a wooden stake. Neptune causes a storm that destroys the ship. Merciful goddesses intervene and save the hero, and Minerva casts him into a magical deep sleep so that he can rest and heal. Ulysses is shipwrecked on the island of KingAlcinous, who stands in here for King Louis XIV, and is accorded the highest praise for his strength and goodness. [Always look for flattery of wealthy patrons in works of art, including music.]
This work is available onNaxosMusicOnline, which is available via the QC library. Go tohttps://qc-cuny.libguides.com/music. On the lower left corner of the page, click onNaxosMusic Library. You will be asked to enter your LibraryBarcodeif you are accessing this off campus. When theNaxoshome page comes up, enterJacquetUlisseVoixin the keyword search. Click on the one recording that comes up. The cantata you want is on track 2 - track 12.
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Assignment
Listen to this entire cantata (it's not very long) and follow the text, which I've annotated with track numbers as you'll find them under the recording inNaxosMusic Library.
It is written for soprano voice, flute, violin, harpsichord and cello (or other low-pitched string instrument)
Then select any four consecutive movements (tracks) that appeal to you most. Listen to each oneattentively and carefullyseveral times, and answer the following questions for each one. Consult and use the descriptions of the musical elements in the lesson.
- Describe the pitch range and dynamics. Music of this era (the Middle Baroque (1650-1720 or so) tends not to have huge changes in dynamic range within one section, or movement.
- Describe the texture as best you can. Is the voice simply supported by the instruments (homophonic), or do one or more of the instruments intertwine melodies with the singer above theharpsichord's chords(polyphonic +homophonic)?
- Describe the beat (steady, or free), meter (if applicable), and tempo.
- Listen for form, and describe it the best you can, according to what was described in the lesson materials.
- Then tell how these basic elements, and any other elements of tone color and general style (maybe not all the instruments are playing, e.g. . . . ), help to convey the meaning and mood of this specific episode of the story. How does this movement help to move the story along, or paint a picture of a particular event?
Take time to think about how you want to organize your answers, so that they flow logically, and will be be clear and easy for me to read and understand. Good organization and design makes your hard work more accessible, and leads to higher grades from grateful teachers.
Be concise. Be specific. Don't repeat yourself. Omit needless words.
Due on Tuesday 3/5.