The Baroque Period

1600 - 1750

The “Age of Absolutism”

• Many rulers exercised absolute power over all their subjects

• Kings would show their power by trying to throw the best balls, banquets, entertainment, etc

• The Duke of Weimar in Germany threw Johann Sebastian Bach in jail for a month because he asked if he could leave his job!

Famous Composers of the Baroque

• George Frederick Handel• Johann Sebastian Bach• Antonio Vivaldi• Claudio Monteverdi• Henry Purcell• Arcangelo Curelli

Baroque Phases

• Baroque is divided into 3 phases:– The Early Phase (1600 – 1640)– The Middle Phase (1640 – 1690)– The Late Phase (1690 – 1750)

• Most music we know of today comes from the late phase

• Our focus for this course will be that of the late phase

Characteristics of Baroque Music

• Mood – What begins will end that way:– Starts happy = ends happy– Starts sad = ends sad

• “Affections” = mood of the music• Rhythm – Beat stays constant and repetitive

rhythms are used in the Baroque period• Melody – Short phrases that are repeated• Dynamics – SUDDEN CHANGES!!! Ppp - FFF

Music is a HARD JOB to do!

• Instead of one work being five to ten minutes, composers began to do works that would be an hour long, but would be divided into “MOVEMENTS”

• In order to be a well-paid musician of the baroque period, you either knew someone, or you replaced your father… etc

• Musicians had to pass many examinations for the kings and would submit work to get positions!

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

• 1685 – 1750 – Born in Germany• Was known for the composer that ended the

era• His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather

were church musicians• Bach had 20 children! ; 4 became musicians!• Bach had several brothers that were also

musicians in the town

• Bach received his first music lessons from his father, who was the town musician. He also received lessons from his cousin, the church organists for many years

• When he was 9, his parents died and he went to live with his oldest brother, who was a composer and organist nearby

• He stayed here till 15, where he moved to another nearby town and supported himself by singing, playing violin, and piano for the church

Bach “Loves” his family…

• Bach was 18 when he worked at the church in Arnstadt.

• His church authorities became nervous about his relationship with a very “strange maiden” that he left in the middle of the night to meet in the alley

• They found out that he was actually having a relationship with his cousin, Barbara Bach

• He left the job and found a better job in a town nearby

• They were unaware of the relationship/family ties and had a huge celebration where he married his cousin!

• He stayed at this church and was “pampered” for many years. When a senior musician retired, Bach wanted the job; and was denied the position

• He decided to leave when he was not offered the job he wanted

Bach’s new job

• For approximately 10 years, he obtained another organist job and conducted the town’s symphony.

• He was paid second highest in the land (just under the marshal of the court!

• Just afterwards, Bach’s cousin/wife died; left him with 4 children and a lot of bills (She was a big spender!!!)

Bach finds another love

• His wife died (at 45). Bach found another love at 46 yrs old… he married a 16 year old singer after only dating her for 3 weeks!

• His interest in her declined after 4 weeks, as she said she did not like his music!

• He left her and filed for another divorce and again, found another job

• He got the position of music director for the St. Thomas Church or Leipzig, Germany

• Bach remained here for the final 20 years of his life

• He only dated those that were under 20 yrs old, and would sometimes offer them free music lessons for a date!!

• By being in Leipzig, he had 30,000 people to entertain (largest city).

• He had 55 students in the Leipzig University and another 25 students that he taught in the St. Thomas school of music

• He and his students gave town concerts every Friday night in Leipzig.. Became the main centerpiece for entertainment of the city

Bach’s Time is Ending…

• In the 1740’s Bach’s eyesight was deteriorating, but he still worked hard to compose, conduct, and teach

• In 1750, he totally became blind and was so distraught that he could not do what he wanted to continue to do with his life, he was said to have grieved himself to death…

Bach Remembered• Bach was not even considered one of the greatest

composers of his day during his life• Bach was only known in Germany…not recognized

or accepted in other towns nearby• Bach’s music continued to remain unpublished for

much of his life• His works that we know of now were actually

made more famous due to other composers that helped revive his music– they publicly performed his masterpieces for their own concerts and gave him the credit where credit is due

NEXT COMPOSER STUDY

George FrederickHandel

(1685 – 1759)