Question: What happens to the time during an aria in Baroque opera?
Show answer
It stops.
In Baroque opera, the aria stands as a distinctive musical form with specific characteristics and functions. One of its most pronounced features is its effect on the progression of time and narrative within the opera.
Arias in Baroque opera tend to “stop time,” so to speak. Instead of propelling the narrative forward, they offer a moment of reflection, introspection, and elaboration. During an aria, the dramatic action often comes to a standstill, allowing a character to delve deep into their emotions, desires, fears, or aspirations. It’s a moment where the inner world of the character is brought to the forefront, and their emotional state is explored in depth.
This “stopping of time” is not just figurative but can also be literal in the context of the opera’s narrative. While the character sings an aria that might last several minutes, expressing a vast range of emotions, the surrounding circumstances in the opera – the events, the other characters – remain static. For example, if a character sings an aria just before making a significant decision, the decision won’t be acted upon until the aria is over, no matter how long the aria lasts.
Musically, Baroque arias often employ repeated sections and da capo forms (a ternary or ABA form), which further emphasizes this sense of extended time. The da capo instruction, which means “from the beginning,” asks the performer to repeat the A section after completing the B section, often with embellishments and variations during the repeat. This form not only extends the duration of the aria but also allows for expressive ornamentation, emphasizing the depth and intricacy of the character’s emotional journey.
The stopping of narrative time in Baroque arias contrasts with the recitatives – the sung dialogue or monologue that usually precedes or follows an aria. Recitatives move the plot forward, providing context and setting up the emotional or dramatic situations that will be elaborated upon in the arias.
In summary, in Baroque opera, the aria serves as a moment of pause in the storyline, an emotional deep-dive, and an opportunity for vocal virtuosity. It’s a space where characters can reflect, emote, and connect with the audience on a profound level, while the linear progression of the narrative waits in abeyance.
