25th Annual Student Research Conference
Applying the Art of Ornamentation to Purcell's Dido and Aeneas
Martha K. Scharff♦
Dr. Thomas Hueber, Faculty Mentor
Dido and Aeneas is a famous Baroque opera composed by the English composer Henry Purcell (1659-1695) around the year 1688. The opera, made up of three acts, consists of arias, chorus, and dialogue in recitative style. Repetition of text appears throughout the opera, which lends itself to the ornamentation of many of the musical passages. When looking at the Dido and Aeneas score, for example the score published by Oxford University Press, one will notice that no ornamentation has been included. It was common practice for singers in the Baroque period to apply the ornaments of their choosing at will. The amount and style of ornamentation used in Baroque music varied throughout Europe in such places as Italy, Germany, and England. This session will include a performance of one or two excerpts from the opera.
Keywords: Purcell, Baroque, opera, ornamentation
Topic(s):Music
Presentation Type: Performance Art
Session: 301-3
Location: OP Performance Hall
Time: 1:30