Baroque Era Period of Music

The Baroque Period of Western Music History circa 1600 to 1750 AD. �It may derive from the word barroco in Portuguese meaning “irregular shape.” Originally used in a derogatory fashion to describe artistic trends of this time period, baroque has come to broadly refer to the century and a half beginning in 1600. 

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1. Baroque Era 1

2. Contents : What’s the eras in music ?........................................... 3 The music eras of time…………………………………..... 3 Baroque Era Baroque era music genres…………………………… 3 Who invented Baroque music?............................... 3 Where did baroque music come from?.................... 4 Why is it called Baroque?...................................... 4 Baroque Society & Historical Developments………... 4 Music in Baroque Society …………………………... 5 Baroque Music: Three Phases………………………. 5-6 Characteristics of Baroque Music…………………… 7-8 Baroque Instrumental Genres………………………. 9-10 Common musical procedures ……………………….. 11 Opera …………………………………………………. 12 Parts of the opera……………………………………... 12 The Baroque Sonata………………………………… 12-13 The Baroque Suite …………………………………… 13 Vocal Genres…………………………………………. 14-16 Baroque Composers…………………………………. 17-18 Baroque architecture…………………………………… 19 Summary…………………………………………......... 20 2

3. What’s the eras in music ? Music  historians divide the Western classical  music repertory into various  eras  based on what style was most popular as taste changed. The music eras of time: Medieval (c. 1150 - c. 1400) Renaissance (c. 1400 - c. 1600) Baroque (c. 1600 - c. 1750) Classical (c. 1750 - c. 1830) Early Romantic (c. 1830 - c. 1860) Late Romantic (c. 1860 - c. 1920) Post 'Great War' Years (c. 1920 - Present) Baroque Era 1600-1750 Who invented Baroque music? This era was blessed by composers like  Bach ,  Vivaldi  and  Handel , who pioneered new styles like the concerto and the sonata. 3

4. Where did baroque music come from? New developments in music originated in  Italy , after which it took up to 20 years before they were broadly adopted in rest of the Western classical music practice. Why is it called Baroque ? The word “ baroque ” comes from the Portuguese word barroco meaning misshapen pearl, a negative description of the ornate and heavily ornamented music of this period. Later, the name came to apply also to the architecture of the same period. Baroque Society & Historical Developments : Age of discovery • Galileo •Newton Religious conflict • Protestant vs. Catholic •Counter-Reformation Political Absolutism • Concentration of power and wealth in the hands of educated nobles 4

5. Baroque Music: Three Phases Early Baroque: 1600-1640 In reference to music, they based their ideals on a perception of Classical • homophonic texture • texts conveyed extreme emotion • words were easy to understand • belief in the power of music to affect the listener emotionally • frequent use of dissonance to depict extreme emotions • contrast of sounds were stressed • opera was created Music in Baroque Society • Music was written to order for specific events • Performers and audiences wanted new music each time • Musicians were employed by the courts of the aristocracy as composers, performers, and teachers • Musicians also worked for the church as composers, performers, and teachers • Opera houses were built and musicians earned money as opera composers and performers. • Musicians were often trained by family members or through apprentic eships. • Women were not permitted to be music directors of instrumentalists in court or opera orchestras. 5

6. Middle Baroque: 1640-1680 New style spread from Italy to all of Europe • Now major and minor scales replaced church modes • instrumental music became more important • compositions were now being written for specific instruments, esp. the violin Late Baroque: 1680-1750 •V-I progression became standard •Instrumental music became just as important as vocal music •dominance of melody and bass line in 4 part texture, inner voices were indicated by numbers rather than written in the score •use of virtuoso performers both vocal and instrumental •use of a limited number of basic and regular meters (strong beat) 6

7. Characteristics of Baroque Music Unity of Mood • music expressed one basic mood (joy, grief, etc.) • specific rhythms, melodic patterns, tempos, & keys were associated with specific moods • moods were called affections Continuity of Rhythm • Patterns are repeated throughout a piece • provided energy and uninterrupted motion • beat is emphasized Melody: creates a feeling of continuity • melodic phrases are often repeated • melodic sequence used to add variety • melodies are elaborate and ornamental-difficult to sing Continuity Dynamics • volume stays the same for long stretches of time • terraced dynamics • no gradual changes like crescendo or decrescendo 7 Texture Harmony Words & Music Doctrine of the Affections

8. Baroque Orchestra • 10-40 players • instrumentation varied from piece to piece • always had basso continuo and upper strings • use of other instruments was varied and could include : recorders, flutes, oboes, trumpets, horns, trombones, and timpani • 4 section orchestra became standard by the end of this era Baroque Forms • Divided into movements each with it’s own theme or mood. • Often AB or ABA with contrasting tempi, instrumentation, dynamics, and keys Doctrine of the Affections • developed by Baroque theorists and composers • assigned specific meanings to designated keys, tempi, rhythmic patterns, and even intervals 8

9. Baroque Instrumental Genres Concerto •Concerto Grosso •Solo Concerto Fugue Opera Sonata Suite Concerto Grosso Small groups of solos vs. orchestra (tutti) Several contrasting movements fast-slow-fast • Ritornello • Main Composers Vivaldi Bach Corelli 9

10. Solo Concerto • organized like the concerto grosso • written for only one instrument Main Composers Vivaldi Handel Bach Fugue (vocal and instrumental genre) • Polyphonic composition based on one main theme, called a subject • 4-5 voices (melodic lines) •subject is always announced with a single voice followed by entrances by other voices, one at a time • Countersubject • Episodes • Prelude 10

11. Common musical procedures Stretto • statements of the subject overlap; subject is imitated before it is completed, one voice tries to catch up with the other Pedal point (organ point) • single tone in the bass which is held while the other voices produce a series of changing harmonies Fugue compositional techniques • Inversion • Retrograde • Augmentation • diminution Main Fugue Composers • Handel • Bach 11

12. Opera •Drama that is sung to orchestral accompaniment • Started in Italy around 1600 • 1st Opera house built in Venice in 1637 • Secular themes-Greek & Roman legends were often used for plots •Italian libretto (the text of the opera) • Fully staged with costumes, scenery, acting, and orchestra •Operas were social gatherings Parts of the opera •Aria •Recitative •Overture (prelude) •Well Known Operas • Orfeo by Monteverdi • Dido and Aeneas by Purcell 12 The Baroque Sonata (instrumental genre) • Musically the most important genre • Originated in Italy and spread to Germany • 4 sections slow-fast-slow-fast

13. Types of Baroque Sonatas Solo for unaccompanied instrument Solo sonata • one solo instrument (violin) • plus continuo (cello/harpsichord) Trio Sonata • usually 2 violins • plus continuo (cello/harpsichord) Main Composers • Corelli • Vivaldi • Handel • Bach 13 The Baroque Suite (instrumental genre) • Series of movements, each based on a particular dance rhythm and style • Movements had contrasting tempos, meters, and character • Usually includes the allemande, courante, gavotte, saraband, gigue • Not intended to accompany dancing

14. Vocal Genres Chorale Hymn tunes with religious words . Developed during the late Renaissance and early Baroque period. Originated when Martin Luther translated sacred songs into the vernacular language (German), contrary to the established practice of church music near the end of the first quarter of the 16th century. Composers Bach Luther 14

15. Church Cantata German religious text. Usually written for chorus, vocal soloist, organ, and small orchestra vocal piece in several movements usually based on a single melody. Begins with an opening piece for full chorus and orchestra then continues with alternating solos, duets, small ensembles, and other choruses, ending with a statement of the melody. Composers Antonio Vivaldi George Frideric Handel Jean-Philippe Rameau Domenico Scarlatti Johann Sebastian Bach • EX: Cantata No. 140 “Awake, A Voice is Calling Us” by JS Bach 15

16. Oratorio A vocal work of music, written in movements with soloists, chorus, and orchestra. Based on sacred themes and taken from Biblical scripture. A singing narrator helped to explain the dramatic action. Sung in Latin. Most famous of all oratorios is Handel’s Messiah. Composers Marc-Antoine Charpentier Heinrich Schütz J. S. Bach. 16

17. Baroque Composers Claudio Monteverdi Purcell Antonio Vivaldi George Friedric Handel Johann Sebastian Bach 17 Claudio Monteverdi, The godfather of opera • Italian 1567-1643 • organist, violinist • composed over 250 pieces including madrigals, operas, masses, and motets Most important achievements is the introduction of drama to music. L’Orfeo (1607) is often referred to as the first ever opera. George Friedric Handel •German-English 1685-1759 •Major force in English music • great composer of dramatic music including opera & oratorio •organ virtuoso with a wondrous gift for improvisation • violist and composer • composed more than 40 operas, 35 oratorios, 40 sonatas, many concertos, cantatas, and suites Wrote the most famous of all oratorios, Messiah (1741).

18. Antonio Vivaldi • Italian 1678-1741 • Leading Italian composer of the late Baroque • Master of the Concerto • used ritornello form, 3 movement structure, cadenzas • virtuoso violinist, contributed to violin technique • wrote mainly concertos but also wrote cantatas, church music, and instrumental pieces . his music stressed wide leaps, syncopation, frequent use of 7th chords. Wrote over 500 concertos and the most famous set of concertos is The Four Seasons. 18 Johann Sebastian Bach • German 1685-1750 • regarded as the consummate master of Baroque styles, genres, and structural principles • great master of counterpoint • composer, teacher, organist, and violinist • composed over 300 cantatas, masses, passions, oratorios, keyboard pieces, sonatas, suites, and concertos Best-known compositions include The Well-Tempered Clavier, Toccata and Fugue in D minor, Air on the G String, Goldberg Variations, Brandenburg Concertos and many more.

19. Baroque architecture: Linked to the Counter- Reformation Celebrating the wealth of the Catholic church. Characterized by new explorations of form , light and shadow, and dramatic intensity Bernini was the master of Baroque architecture in Rome St. Peter's Square was one of his greatest achievements. Key Changes: Grandeur Drama and contrast (especially in lighting) Curvaceousness Dizzying array of rich surface treatments Twisting elements Bright colours and illusory Vividly painted ceilings. 19

20. Summary: General characteristics of Baroque Music: MELODY: A single melodic idea. RHYTHM: Continuous rhythmic drive TEXTURE: Balance of Homophonic (melody with chordal harmony) and polyphonic textures. Features of baroque music: The Basso Continuo (Figured Bass). One mood throughout the entire piece. Important String sections. Modes were replaced by the Major/Minor key system. Many different forms are used (e.g. Binary, Fugue) Many types of music, e.g. The Chorale, Opera, the Dance Suite. Energetic rhythms (Exuberance), long melodies, many ornaments, contrasts (especially dynamics, but also in timbres) 20