Composers of the
Baroque Period
Johann
Sebastia
n Bach
Eisenach, Germany on March
21,1685
A genius keyboardist (mastering
the organ and harpsichord) and
brilliant composer.
Father of Modern music.
Greatest of all master of music
From musician family
Married twice, produced twenty
offspring.
Religious man. His bible was filled
with annotations and comments.
-Believed that music must serve “the
Glory of God”
The Well -Tempered Clavier is Bach’s
most important work.
He died in Leipzig on July 28,1750.
Popular Works: Air on a G
String, Double Violin
Concerto, Brandenburg Concerto No.
3, B Minor Mass, and The
Unaccompanied Cello Suites.
George
Frederic
k Handel
German organist and composer. Born in the
same year as Johann Sebastian Bach, creating
the English oratorio.
He was a musical giant of the late Baroque
period.
Master of keyboard instrument
Opera and oratorio are the most important forms
in Handel’s music
Handel favoured diatonic
His melody was rich in expression, rising and
falling in great majestic arches.
He died on April 4,1759
Popular Works: The Messiah, Music for the
Royal Fireworks, and Water Music
Antoni
o
Vivaldi
Born on March 4, 1678 in Venice, Italy
An Italian composer of instrumental music and opera who was responsible for the development of the concerto during his time.
Son of violinist.
In his 20’s he was ordained in the church and came to be known as “ the red priest”(due to the color of his hair).
Music master at four music schools for which Venice was famous.
“The Four Seasons”-one of his famous group of concertos.
Vivaldi’s life came to a mysterious end.
He made more than fifty thousand ducats but as result of excessive extravagance, Vivaldi died poor.
He was buried in a pauper’s grave.
Popular Works: The Four Seasons, Gloria, and Con Alla Rustica in G
Henry
Purcell
Within a lifetime of only thirty-five years, Purcell
achieved musical greatness by being
considered one of England’s greatest
composers and the most original composer of
his time. Purcell was extremely talented in word-
setting and composed very successful works for
stage.
He wrote church and chamber music.
He composed a series of religious works and
other pieces to entertain the court of the English
king and queen.
Religious anthems and court odes are some of
his ceremonial music.
“Rigadoon” Purcell’s musical score.
Antonio
Stradiva
ri
An Italian violin maker and also
known as Stradivarius. The
richness of tones of his
violins, violas, and cellos have
never been surpassed.
Musical Instrument 1. Key Board Instruments
Harpsichord
Clavichord
Organ
String Instruments Violin
Viola
Woodwind InstrumentOboe
Bassoon
Key Board
Instruments
Harpsichord
Look like a grand piano but it is
much smaller.
Its keyboard has fewer
keys, and those built in the 17th
century had two keyboards
plus stop knobs can double a
key so that it produces pitches
an octave above or below that
of the key being pressed.
Clavichord
Is an early Baroque
keyboard instrument
having strings struck
by tangents attached
directly to the key
ends.
Organ
Reached its highest
development during the
Baroque Period.
The organ sounds produced
by air blown into pipes.
Each pipe comprises a
pitch.
String Instruments
Violin
Is a bowed string instrument
which has four strings tuned at
intervals of a fifth and a usual
range from G below middle C
upward for more than 4 ½
octaves and having a shallow
body, shoulders at right angles to
the neck, a fingerboard without
frets, and a curved bridge.
Viola
Is bowed stringed instrument
made in bass, tenor, alto, and
treble sizes.
It can be distinguished from the
other members of the violin family
in a having a deep body, a flat
back, sloping shoulders, usually
six strings, a fretted fingerboard,
and low arched bridge.
Woodwind
Instrument
Oboe
Is a double reed wind
instrument having a conical
tube, a brilliant penetrating
tone, and penetrating
tone, and a usual range
from B flat below middle C
upward for over 2 ½
octaves
Bassoon
Is a double reed instrument
which has a long V-shaped
conical tube connected to
the mouth piece by a thin
metal tube and usual range
two octaves lower than of
the oboe.