Music History: Baroque

Baroque

1600-1750 What is going on during this time? Western Art Music – Europe At the time, baroque translates to

“oddly pear shappen” Now, just a catch all for a diverse

music period focusing on ornamentation

Characterisics

Contrast in dynamics Composer now specifies

instrumentation, performer does not choose

Single melody line and basso continuo Simplified complex lines of the

Reniassance and had one main musical idea

Basso continuo – bass line with shorthand notation indicating harmonies

Characteristics

The power of music to communicate Focus of music still on the individual and emotion,

but now the notes are the primary concern not the text

Patronage Hired by political or religious institution

National Style Countries play the same kind of music in different

ways Public Concert invented

Middle class musicians can start making more money

Composers

Italy: Monteverdi, Frescobaldi, Corelli, Vivaldi, Domenico and Alessandro Scarlatti

France: Couperin, Lully, Charpentier and  Rameau

Germany: Praetorius, Schein, Scheidt,  Schutz, Telemann, Handel and Bach

England: Purcell

New Kinds of Music

Vocal Opera Oratorio Cantata

Instrumental Sonata Concerto Suite

Opera

A drama that is primarily sung, accompanied by instruments, and presented on stage.

Earliest opera still performed today is Claudio Monteverdi’s Orfeo (1607).

First public opera houses opened in Venice in 1637 Altered to suit the preferences of the audience Solo singers took on a sort of celebrity status 18th century - two subgenres of opera 

opera seria - serious subject matter opera buffa - a lighter, even comic tone

Most prominent country/kind of opera: the Italian Opera

Sonata

A work in several movements for one or more instruments (most frequently violins) and basso continuo

Church sonatas usually comprised of four movements alternating between slow and fast tempos

Chamber sonata consisted of a series of dances akin to the suite.

The rise to prominence of solo sonatas for keyboard instruments begins late in the baroque period, including those for organ (Bach) and harpsichord (Handel, Scarlatti)

Concerto

a multimovement work for instrumental soloist (or group of soloists) and orchestra

concerto grosso alternates a small group of soloists with a larger ensemble

solo concerto featured a single instrument in contrast with an ensemble

The most prolific composer of the solo concerto was Antonio Vivaldi, who wrote approximately 350 and established the concerto’s standard three-movement form (two fast outer movements, one middle movement in a slower tempo).

While most solo concertos were written for violin, trumpet concertos were also popular, and concertos were also composed for cello, oboe, flute and bassoon