Bahasa Inggris I (TOEFL) PT 1 : Opera

OLEH STMIK RAHARJA

Dosen : Arsi Yulianjani, SPd.MPd

What does opera mean?

Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text (called a libretto) and musical score. Opera is part of the Western classical music tradition. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery and costumes and sometimes includes dance. The performance is typically given in an opera house, accompanied by an orchestra or smaller musical ensemble.

Opera started in Italy at the end of the 16th century (with Jacopo Peri's lost Dafne, produced in Florence around 1597) and soon spread through the rest of Europe: Schütz in Germany, Lully in France, and Purcell in England all helped to establish their national traditions in the 17th century. However, in the 18th century, Italian opera continued to dominate most of Europe, except France, attracting foreign composers such as Handel. Opera seria was the most prestigious form of Italian opera, until Gluck reacted against its artificiality with his "reform" operas in the 1760s. Today the most renowned figure of late 18th century opera is Mozart, who began with opera seria but is most famous for his Italian comic operas, especially The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Così fan tutte, as well as The Magic Flute, a landmark in the German tradition.

Who is jacopo peri ?

Jacopo Peri (20 August 1561 – 12 August 1633) was an Italian composer and singer of the transitional period between the Renaissance and Baroque styles, and is often called the inventor of opera. He wrote the first work to be called an opera today, Dafne (around 1597), and also the first opera to have survived to the present day, Euridice(1600).

Peri was born in Rome, but studied in Florence with Cristofano Malvezzi, and went on to work in a number of churches there, both as an organist and as a singer. He subsequently began to work in the Medici court, first as a tenor singer and keyboard player, and later as a composer. His earliest works were incidental music for plays, intermedi and madrigals.

In the 1590s, Peri became associated with Jacopo Corsi, the leading patron of music in Florence. They felt contemporary art was inferior to classical Greek and Roman works, and decided to attempt to recreate Greek tragedy, as they understood it. Their work added to that of the Florentine Camerata of the previous decade, which produced the first experiments in monody, the solo song style over continuo bass which eventually developed into recitative and aria. Peri and Corsi brought in the poet Ottavio Rinuccini to write a text, and the result, Dafne, though nowadays thought to be a long way from anything the Greeks would have recognised, is seen as the first work in a new form, opera.

Rinuccini and Peri next collaborated on Euridice. This was first performed on 6 October 1600, and, unlike Dafne, has survived to the present day (though it is hardly ever staged, and then only as an historical curio). The work made use of recitatives, a new development which went between the arias and choruses and served to move the action along.

Peri produced a number of other operas, often in collaboration with other composers, and also wrote a number of other pieces for various court entertainments. Few of his pieces are still performed today, and even by the time of his death his operatic style was looking rather old-fashioned when compared to the work of relatively younger reformist composers such as Claudio Monteverdi. Peri's influence on those later composers, however, was large.

TOEFL MODEL TEST : Reading Comprehension And Structure (First Meeting)

Although stage plays has been set to music since the era of the ancient Greeks, when the dramas of Sophocies and Aeschylus were accompanied by lyres and flutes, the usual accepted date for the beginning of opera as we know it is 1600. As a part of the celebration of the marriage of King Henry IV of France to the Italian aristocrat Maria De Medici, the Florentine composer Jacopo Peri produced his famous Euridice, generally considered to be the first opera. Following his example, a group of Italian musicians, poets, and noblemen called the Camerata began to revive the style of musical story that had been used in Greek tragedy. The Camerata took most of the plots for their operas from Greek and Roman history and mythology, beginning the process of creating an opera by writing a libretto or drama that could be used to establish the framework to the music. They called their compositions opera in musical or musical works. It is from this phrase that the word “opera” was borrowed and abbreviated.

For several years, the center of opera was Florence in Northern Italy, but gradually, during the Baroque period, it spread throughout Italy. By the late 1600s, operas were being written and performed in many places throughout Europe, especially in England, France, and Germany.

However, for many years, the Italian opera was considered the ideal, and many non-Italian composers continued to use Italian librettos. The European form deemphasized the dramatic aspect of the Italian model. New orchestral effects and even ballet were introduced under the guise of opera. Composers gave in to the demands of singers, writing many operas that were little more than a succession of brilliant tricks for the voice, designed to showcase the splendid voices of the singer who had requested them. It was thus that complicated arias, recitative, and duets evolved. The aria, which is a long solo, may be compared to a song in which the characters express their thoughts and feelings. The recitative, which is also a solo of sorts, is a recitation set to music, the purpose of which is to continue the story line. The duet is a musical piece written for two voices, a musical device than may serve the function of either an aria or a recitative within the opera.

Vocabulary

Lyre: A stringed instrument of the harp class used by the ancient Greeks
Flute: Musical instrument like a thin pipe, played by blowing across a hole at one end
Poet: One who writes poetry, a maker of verses
Revive: To restore to consciousness or life
Plot: plan or outline (of the events of a story, esp of a novel or drama)
Mythology: A branch of knowledge that deals with myth
Libretto: The text of a work (as an opera) for the musical theater
Guise: A form or style of dress
Splendid: Possesing or display splendor
Aria: A striking solo performance
Recitative: A rhythmically free vocal style that imitates the natural inflections of speech and that is used for dialogue and narrative in operas and oratorios
Duet: piece of music for two voices or for two players
Solo: piece of music (to be) performed by one person

Exam

1. This passage is a summary of

A. opera in Italy C. the development of opera

B. the Camerata D. Euridice

2. According to this passage, when did modern opera begin?

A. In the time of the ancient Greeks

B. In the fifteenth century

C. At the beginning of the sixteenth century

D. At the beginning of the seventeenth century

3. The word it in paragraph 1 refers to

A. opera B. Date C. Era D. music

4. According to the author, what did Jacopo Peri write?

A. Greek tragedy C. The opera Maria de Medici

B. The first opera D. The opera The Camerata

5. The author suggests that Euridice was produced

A. in France

B. originally by Sopocles and Aeschylus

C. without much success

D. for the wedding of King Henry IV

6. What was The Camerata?

A. A group of Greek musicians

B. Musicians who developed a new musical drama

based upon Greek drama

C. A style of music not known in Italy

D. The name given to the court of King Henry IV

7. The word revive in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by

A. appreciate B. Resume C. modify

D. investigate

8. The word plot in paragraph 1 is closet in meaning to

A. locations B. instruments C. stories

D. inspiration

9. From what did the term “opera” derive?

A. Greek and Roman history and mythology

B. non-Italian composers

C. The Italian phrase that means “musical works”

D. The ideas of composer Jacopo Peri.

PROBLEMS WITH VERBS

A verb is a word or phrase that expresses existence, action, or experience.

There are two kinds of verbs in English. There are the main verb and the auxiliary verb. In some grammar books, the auxiliary verb is called a helping verb because it is used with a main verb.

Every verb in English can be described by the following formula:

VERB = tense + (modal) + (have + participle) +

(be + -ing) + verb word

Each of the parts of this formula will be summarized in one or more of the problems in this review. Don’t spend time studying it now. Just refer to it as you progress through this review section.

PROBLEMS WITH MAIN VERBS

In English, a sentence must have a main verb. A sentence may or may not have an auxiliary verb.

Problem 1 Missing Main Verb

Remember that every English sentence must have a subject and a main verb.

S V

The sound of the dryer bothers my concentration.

Avoid using an –ing form, an infinitive, an auxiliary verb, or another part of speech instead of a main verb.

Examples

Incorrect: The prettiest girl in our class with long brown hair and brown eyes.

Correct :The prettiest girl in our class has long brown hair and brown eyes.

Incorrect: In my opinion, too soon to make a decision.

Correct : In my opinion, it is too soon to make a decision.

Problem 2 : Verbs that Require an Infinitive in the Complement

Remember that the following verbs require an infinitive for a verb in the complement.

agree; appear; arrange; ask; claim; consent;

decide; demand; deserve; expect; fail; forget;

hesitate; hope; intend; learn; manage; mean;

need; offer; plan; prepare; pretend; promise;

refuse; seem; tend; threaten; wait; want.

S V C (infinitive) M

We had planned to leave day before yesterday.

Avoid using an – ing form, after the verbs listed. Avoid using a verb word after want.

Examples

Incorrect: He wanted speak with Mr. Brown.

Correct : He wanted to speak with Mr. Brown.

Incorrect: We demand knowing our status.

Correct : We demand to know our status.

Problem 3 : Verbs that Require an –ing Form in the Complement

Remember that the following verbs require an -ing form for a verb in the complement:

admid; appreciate; avoid; complete; consider;

delay; deny; discuss; enjoy; finish; keep; mention;

miss; postpone; practice; quit; recall; recommend;

regret; risk; stop; suggest; tolerate; understand.

S V C (infinitive) M

He enjoys traveling by plane.

Avoid using an –infinitive after the verbs listed. Forbid may be used with either an infinitive or an –ing complement, but forbid from is not idiomatic.

Examples

Incorrect: She is considering not to go.

Correct : She is considering not going.

Incorrect: We enjoyed talk with your friend.

Correct : We enjoyed talking with your friend.

Problem 4 : Verb Phrases that require an –ing Form in the Complement

Remember that the following verbs phrases require an -ing form for a verb in the complement:

approve of; be better of; can’t help; count on; do not mind; forget about; get through; insist on; keep on; look forward to; object to; think about; think of.

S V Ph C (-ing) M

She forgot about canceling her appointment.

Avoid using an –infinitive after the verb phrases listed. Avoid using a verb word after look forward to and object to.

Remember that the verb phrase BE likely does not require an –ing form but requires an infinitive in the complement

Examples

Incorrect: She is likely knowing.

Correct : She is likely to know.

Incorrect: Let’s go to the movie when you get through to study.

Correct : Let’s go to the movie when you get through studying

PROBLEMS WITH TENSE

Many grammar books list a large number of tenses in English, but the two basic of tenses are present and past. Auxiliary verbs are used with main verbs to express future and other special times.

Problem 5 Irregular Past Forms

Remember that past forms of the following irregular verbs are not the same as the participles:

Verb Word Past Form Participle

be was/ were been
beat beat beaten
become became become
begin began begun
bite bit beaten
blow blew blown
break broke broken
choose chose chosen
come came come
do did done
draw drew drawn
drink drank drunk
drive drove driven
eat eat eaten
fall fell fallen
fly flew flown
forget forgot forgotten
forgive forgave forgiven
freeze froze frozen
get got got/gotten
give forgave forgiven
go went gone
grow grew grown
hide hid hidden
know knew known
ride rode ridden
run ran ran
see saw seen
shake shook shaken
show showed shown
shrink shrank shrunk
sing sang sung
speak spoke spoken
steal stole stolen
swear swore sworn
swim swam swum
take took taken
tear tore torn
throw threw thrown
wear wore worn
weave wove woven
withdraw withdrew withdrawn
write wrote written

S V (past) M

The concert began at eight o’clock.

Avoid using a participle instead of a past for simple past statements.

Examples

Incorrect: They done it very well after they had practiced.

Correct : They did it very well after they had practiced.

Incorrect: Before she run the computer program, she had checked it out with her supervisor.

Correct : Before she ran the computer program, she had checked it out with her supervisor.

PROBLEMS WITH MODALS AND MODAL-RELATED PATTERN

Modals are auxiliary verbs. They are used with main verbs to give additional meaning to main verbs.

The most common modals are listed below along with some of the additional meanings that they add to main verbs.

Can possibility, ability, permission

could possibility, ability in the past

may probability, permission

might probability

must necessity, logical conclusion

shall future with emphasis

should advice, obligation, prediction

will future

would condition

Problem 6 : Modal + Verb Word

Remember that a modal is used with a verb word. A verb word is the dictionary form of the verb. In some grammar books, the verb word is called the bare infinitive because it appears without the word to. Verb words are very important in many patterns, but they are used most often with modals.

S modal verb word

They might visit us.

Avoid using an infinitive or an –ing form instead of a verb word after a modal.

Examples

Incorrect: After you show me the way, I can to go by myself.

Correct : After you show me the way, I can go by myself.

Incorrect: Our friends might stopping to see us on their way to California.

Correct : Our friends might stop to see us on their way to California.

Problem 7 :Logical Conclusions – Events in the Past

Remember that must is a modal. Must followed by the verb word have and a participles expresses a logical conclusion based on evidence. The conclusion is about an event that happened in the past.

Remember that an observation in the present may serve as the basis for a conclusion about something that happened in the past. For example, “here is a message on my desk.” It may be concluded that “my friend must have called last night.”

S must have participle past time

My friend must have called last night.

Avoid using should or can instead of must. Avoid using a verb word instead of have and a participle when referring to events in the past.

Examples

Incorrect: The streets are wet; it should have rained last night.

Correct : The streets are wet; it must have rained last night.

Incorrect: This pen won’t write; it can have run out of ink (in the past).

Correct : This pen won’t write; it must have run out of ink (in the past).

Problem 8 : Logical Conclusions – Events in the Present

Remember that must is a modal. Must followed by be and –ing form or an adjective expresses a logical conclusion based on evidence. The conclusion is about an event that is happening now.

S must be -ing present tense

My friend must be calling now.

S must be adjective present time

He must be upset now.

Avoid using a verb word instead of -ing form after must be.

Examples:

Incorrect: The line is busy; someone should be using the telephone now.

Correct : The line is busy; someone must be using the telephone now.

Incorrect: Bob is absent; he must have been sick again (now).

Correct : Bob is absent; he must be sick again (now).

Download Materi PPT (HERE)

Pergunakanlah Materi Dengan Bijak!!!.........................