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Baroque MusicGeneral Characteristics
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Rhythm
Steady beats
Repetitive nature
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Rhythm
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3: I
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Rhythm
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3: III
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Rhythm:
Bach: St. Matthew Passion, Opening Chorus
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Rhythm
The “Walking Bass”
Steady, step-like bass notes underlying a melody
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Rhythm
Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, Aria
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Harmonic Rhythm
The term refers to the placement in time of chord changes.
In Baroque music, harmonic rhythm tends to be steady, becoming
faster near cadences.
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Harmonic Rhythm
Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier I, Prelude No. 2
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Harmonic Rhythm
Bach: Violin Concerto in D Minor BWV 1043
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Dynamics
Usually static
Dynamic changes will be restricted to occuring between
movements.
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Dynamics
“Terraced” dynamics refer to sudden changes, such as a p to a
f.
However, most terraced dynamics are relatively subtle.
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Dynamics
Bach: Orchestral Suite in D Major, Gavotte
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Dynamics
Bach: Violin Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1060
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Tone Color
Less important to Baroque composers
Instruments were more interchangeable:
Harpsichord/Clavichord
Violin/Oboe
‘Cello/Viola da Gamba
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Tone Color
However, tone color was used when it would be effective.
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Tone Color
Handel: a passage from Saul featuring a bell carillon.
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Tone Color
Bach: Cantata No. 82, Ich habe genug
Bach’s love for the sound of oboe and voice
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Melody
Long, serpentine “tapeworm” melodies are often found, especially
in slow movements.
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Melody
Bach: Mass in B Minor, Laudamus
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Melody
Orchestral Suite in D Major, Aria
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Melody
Songlike melodies in short phrases weren’t unheard of,
however.
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Melody
Bach: Cantata No. 84, III: Woll euch
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Continuo
Particular sound of Baroque music
Heard underlying instrumental music and almost all vocal music
as well.
A sustaining instrument (‘cello or viola da gamba) and a
keyboard instrument.
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Continuo
The keyboard player is given only the bass line, together with a
set of figures which indicate the harmonies.
The “continuo player” on the keyboard realizes the figures into
a fully-fleshed out harmonic accompaniment.
The string instrument plays the notated bass line.
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Continuo
Bass line and figures: the performance gives an idea how it
might be realized.
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Continuo
Harpsichord & ‘Cello:
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, Adagio
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Continuo
Organ & ‘Cello
Cantata No. 11 Ach bleibe doch
