Dictionary of Music - Birding America

scherzo 365later works he developed the style of the Italianoverture, a forerunner of the symphony (see underOVERTURE). Born in Palermo, Scarlatti may havestudied with Giacomo Carissimi. His own mostfamous pupil was his son, Domenico. Scarlatti spentmuch of his life in Naples, and the type of opera hewrote is often called “Neapolitan.” Among hisoperas are Il Tigrane (1715) and his only comicwork (all the rest are serious), Il Trionfo dell’onore(“The Triumph of Honor,” 1718).—Domenico Scarlatti, 1685–1757. Rememberedchiefly for his harpsichord compositions. Studyingfirst with his father, Scarlatti at sixteen becameorganist of the royal chapel at Naples. His earliestcompositions include operas and oratorios. Shortlybefore his father’s death he went to Portugal asmusic teacher to a young princess; in 1729 she marriedthe heir to the Spanish throne, and Scarlattiaccompanied her to Spain, where he remained forthe rest of his life, teaching and composing. Duringthis period he wrote mainly harpsichord music—inall, some six hundred “sonatas” and “fugues.” Mostof the pieces are in binary (two-part) form, andmany of them introduce new devices of keyboardtechnique, such as frequent crossing of the hands,rapidly repeated notes, quick arpeggios (brokenchords), and wide leaps (skips of more than anoctave between notes). Some regard Scarlatti as thefounder of modern keyboard technique.Scarlatti’s most notable pupil in Spain was PadreAntonio Soler (1729–1783), who was an organistand, like his master, wrote many fine keyboardsonatas.scatting Also, scat-singing. In jazz, a style ofsinging in which nonsense syllables, yodels, tremolos,and other vocal devices replace the lyrics(words) of a song. The singer Ella Fitzgeraldbecame renowned for her scatting. See also RAP.scena (shā′nä) Italian: “stage.” 1 A scene in anopera, usually consisting of several elements, suchas one or more recitatives, arias, and/or choruses.2 A concert piece for solo voice with accompaniment,similar to an operatic aria but presentedwithout scenery or costume. 3 In instrumentalmusic, a term used to describe the dramatic natureof a piece or section; for example, Ludwig Spohrdescribed his Violin Concerto no. 8 as being inmodo d’una scena cantante, that is, “in the style ofa vocal scena.” —sulla scena (soo ′lä shā′nä).The Italian term for “on stage.”schalkhaft (shälk′häft) German.perform in a playful manner.Schalmei (shäl′mī).small sizes of SHAWM.A direction toThe German name for theSchellen (shel′ən). The German term for bells(see BELL, def. 1; also CHIMES, def. 1).The Ger-Schellentrommel (shel′ən trôm′′əl).man term for TAMBOURINE.Schenker analysis (shen′kər). A system ofstudying musical structure invented by the Austriantheorist Heinrich Schenker (1868–1935). Schenkerbelieved that all music consists of three layers: aforeground, the surface detail of the music; a middleground, the elaboration of the underlying harmonies;and a background, the basic harmonic progressionsof the work. Although Schenker appliedthis system to tonal music (he disapproved of atonality),later theorists have transferred his ideas toatonal works as well, and at least one composer,Milton Babbitt, consciously tried to use the threelevelstructural model in composing his works.scherzando (sker tsän′dô) Italian. A direction toperform in a playful, lively manner, in the manner ofa scherzo (see SCHERZO, def. 1).scherzo (sker′tsô) Italian: “joke.” 1 From the lateeighteenth century on, a movement of a sonata, symphony,quartet, etc., that is in rapid tempo, usually in3/4 meter, and involves elements of surprise in themusic. The scherzo movement usually replaces aminuet and, like it, is generally followed by a trio(see TRIO, def. 1). During the classical period(1785–1820), composers such as Haydn occasionallyreplaced the minuet of the third movement witha scherzo. At first the scherzo was so much like theminuet that practically the only difference lay in the