Baroque Composers

Claudio Monteverdi – (1567-1643)

One of the most important composer of early Baroque Born in Cermona, Italy 21 years of serving court of Mantua

Singer and violinist Music director

Composer of Orfeo (1607) Not widely recognized early in career outside of community

Resulted to begging at some points of life 1613 appointed as music director at St. Mark’s in Venice

30 years – until his death Composed sacred and secular works

Composed operas for the San Cassiano opera house First public opera house in Europe

Wrote last opera at age 75 The Coronation of Poppea, 1642)

Works formed a bridge between the 16th and 17th century Desired to express emotion through music

Orfeo (Orpheus, 1607)

Monteverdi’s first operaComposed for Mantuan court

Very lavish – star soloists, 40 count orchestra…Uses recitatives, arias, duets, choruses, and

instrumental interludes Flexible musical setting for text

Plot line Orpheus happy about marriage to Eurydice

Son of the god Apollo Bride is killed by poisonous snake Orpheus goes to Hades to bring Eurydice back

Because of music he receives his wish Condition – could not look back at Eurydice when leaving

Orpheus looks back and Eurydice disappears Apollo pities Orpheus and brings him to heaven

Act II:Recitative: Tu se morta (You are dead)

Sung by Orpheus after he is told of Eurydice’s death

Vocal line is accompanied only by basso continuo Basso continuo – small organ and bass lute

Homophonic textureRhythmically free

No sense of beat Phrases are irregular in length

Uses word painting

Listening – pg 142

Henry Purcell – (about 1659 – 1695)

Greatest English composer Last native English composer of status until 20th century

Born in LondonFather was a musician for the KingChoirboy at the Chapel Royal

Age 101677 composer for the king’s string orchestra1679 appointed organist of Westminster Abbey1682 organist for the Chapel RoyalLate years spent some time composing music for playsBuried beneath the organ in Westminster AbbeyDido and Aeneas (1689)

Only true opera he wrote – others are plays incorporating music Vocal music is true to the English language inflection Used ground Bass

Ground Bass

Ground Bass (basso ostinato) – bass line is repeated over and over while the melodies above it change

Can be as short or longCreates unity among the varied melodic lineUsed in vocal and instrumental works

Dido and Aeneas Bach’s Mass in B Minor

Dido and Aeneas (1689)

Written for students at a girls’ boarding school Hour in length Scored for strings and harpsichord continuo No elaborate stage or virtuosic solos Many dances

Wanted to highlight the talents of the students Chorus larger role in action and commentary Libretto – by Nate Tate

Inspired by Aeneid a poem Main Characters-

Dido – Queen of Cathage and Aeneas – king of the defeated Trojans Plot

After the destruction of Tory – Aeneas is ordered to seek a site for a new city Starts search with 21 ships Lands in Carthage and falls in love with Dido Sorcerers and witches set a plot for Dido’s fall Gods order Aeneas to leave and renew his search

Act III: Dido’s Lament

Recitative accompanied only by basso continuo

Sorrowful moodClimax of the operaAria – built on chromatically descending

ground bass Stated 11 times

Melody moves freely

The Baroque Sonata

Instrumental music very importantSonata- a composition in several movements

for 1 – 8 instruments More definitive meaning later in history

Trio Sonatas – 3 melodic lines Involved 4 instrumentalist

2 high instruments and 2 basso continuo instruments

Originated in Italy 17th century – spread to Germany, England and France

Sacred or secular Sonata da chiesa – church sonata Sonata da camera – chamber sonata

Arcangelo Corelli – (1653 – 1713)

1700- very exclusive Italian violinist and composer Treated as an aristocratic elite

Studied in BolognaMost of adult life in RomeTaught music

Laid foundation of modern violin technique Wrote double stops and chords for violin

Wrote only instrumental music Unusual for the time 60 sonatas and 12 concertos all for strings

Trio Sonata in A minor, Op. 3, No. 10 (1689)

Two violins and basso continuo Violins seem to be rivals

Basso Continuo for organ and cello Bass is more than accompaniment – imitates melodic

ideas4 movements

Fast – quadruple meter with dotted rhythms Fast – quadruple meter in vigorous allegro Slow – songlike, adagio in triple meter Fast – dancelike, quadruple meter, 2 part form AABB

All in minor key – different in meter, mood and tempo