Baroque Music

The Baroque Era

1585-1750

Copyright © 2005 - Frankel Consulting Services, Inc.

What was going on in the world? 1607 - English settle Jamestown 1610 - Galileo confirms the Earth is

round 1643-1715 - Louis XIV rules France 1687 - Sir Isaac Newton publishes his

Laws of Universal Gravitation 1732- George Washington born 1744-1748 - French & Indian War

What does the word Baroque mean?

Baroque is a French word from Portugese origins that means an irregularly shaped pearl.

Originally the term Baroque was used for the art works created during this period in that there was an inherent strangeness and extravagance associated with them. Only recently has the term also been used to include the music, which is anything but slightly flawed.

Characteristics of Baroque Music Known as Europe’s Gilded

Age Musicians were employees of

the wealthy Returned to the Greek and

Roman ideals

Characteristics, cont.

Characteristics of Baroque Music

Use of a Basso Continuo - harpsichord and cello providing the base of the composition.

Emphasized contrasts in texture, pace and volume.

Strong use of improvisation in both melodies, and the embellishments of those melodies.

Most importantly - if you hear a harpsichord, it’s almost always Baroque.

Baroque Composers

Johann Sebastian Bach

1685-1750

From GermanyComposed cantatas

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Famous for his fugues : Toccata

and Fugue in D Minor Wrote S.D.G. at the end of all his

pieces (to the Glory of God) His entire family was musical

Domenico Scarlatti 1685-1757

Francois Couperin1668-1733

Henry Purcell1659-1695

Georg Philipp Telemann1681-1767

Archangelo Corelli1653-1713

George Frederic Handel1685-1759

From EnglandComposed oratorios

GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL Famous for oratorios Composed “Messiah” – “Hallelujah

Chorus” is in this piece Handel was a world traveler and man

of the world

Antonio Vivaldi1678-1741

From ItalyComposed concertos

Antonio VIVALDI

Virtuoso violinist

Ordained priest Taught violin at a girls’

orphanage in Venice

Wrote over 800 concertos (500 for solo violin & orchestra)

Majority of his works were unknown until the 1920s

The Four Seasons (c. 1725)

Wrote over 800 concertos (500 for solo violin & orch)

Also wrote 100 operas

Majority of his works were unknown until the 1920s(stored in a church archive)

Baroque Instruments

Flute

Oboe

Recorder

Bassoon

Trumpet

Horn

Viola

Cello

Harpsichords & Claviers

Pipe Organ

Baroque music differs greatly from Medieval and

Renaissance music.

Uses of Baroque Music Church Music Other Religious Songs Secular Songs (love, politics…) Instrumental Dances Courtly Entertainment

Baroque Music Characteristics Tried to paint pictures – music portrayed

emotion. The stabilization of music as we know it today.

Instrumental music is popular. It gained equal importance with vocal music.

There was a transition from the church modes as represented in Gregorian chants to a major-minor system, as represented in the major and minor scales we have today.

Composers used mixed groups of instruments to perform works of great complexity.

Music was no longer only functional, it was made to be enjoyed as it’s own entity.

Composers began to search for inspiration for their compositions in not only the church, but in nature.

Baroque music is very similar to jazz in it’s use of improvisation and figured bass.

Polyphony (“many sounds”) returned to a high status.

Composers employed key characteristics in their music, including: 1)Unity of mood; 2)Continuity of rhythm; 3)The repeated use of a melody; 4)The use of terraced dynamics; 5)The use of polyphonic texture

Even More about Baroque Music The 1st opera of note was written in 1600 in

Florence, Italy. Operas often used text from Greek and

Roman mythology Orchestra, chorus, soloists, staging,

costumes, dancing

Baroque Music Vocabulary

Sonata Instrumental music with several

movements.

Oratorio Opera-length works with a clear storyline

but without the production elements.

Counterpoint Two different notes play simultaneously. This system began during the Renaissance.

Fugue This is a polyphonic composition

consisting of a series of successive melody imitations or the restatement in succession of identical or nearly identical musical material in 2 or more parts. A theme is introduced by one voice, repeated by other voices, and developed throughout the piece.

Cantata Designed specifically to be used in the

Lutheran church service. It is a work for vocal soloists, chorus, orchestra, and organ.

Various churches today use cantatas to celebrate such holidays as Easter and Christmas.

Tomorrow, Bach…