Music of the Baroque Period 1600 1750 Baroque
Music of the Baroque Period (1600 -1750)
Baroque Historical Highlights n Age of Absolutism; Kings and Queens are all-powerful n Known for extreme decadence and extravagance of aristocracy (e. g. Louis XIV and his palace of Versailles) n Church Splits in Two; Europe split into Catholic countries (Italy, France, Spain) and Protestant countries (England, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden)
“Baroqu e” Defined n Baroque means exaggerated or overornamented; these adjectives relate to music and visual arts
e Artistic Highligh n Emphasis ts on DRAMA (extreme and heightened emotion) in music and visual arts – Paintings by Artemisia Gentillesc hi show
Baroque Musical Highlights Birth of OPERA - theatrical presentations with music and elaborate stage spectacle n New focus on instrumental music and instrumental accompaniment to voices n New emphasis on chords and use of BASSO CONTINUO n Examples: n – Henry Purcell ”Dido’s Lament " from Dido and Aeneas – Claudio Monteverdi “Tu se’ morta” from
Basso Continuo n Baroque accompaniment made up of a bass part usually played by two instruments – A keyboard (or other chord-generating instrument such as the lute, organ, or harpsichord) – Plus a low melodic instrument (such as the cello or bassoon)
Baroque Music Genres n Vocal Music Genres – Opera – Oratorio – Cantata n Instrumental Music Genres – Chamber Music – Concerto Grosso
Opera n Sung theatrical work with orchestral accompaniment – Vocal soloists and chorus n Staged with costumes and sets
Recitative n Vocal line in a opera, oratorio, or cantata that imitates the rhythms and pitch fluctuations of speech, often serving to lead into an aria n Recitative often gets across mostly plot information in the opera, while the Aria communicates the character’s emotions
Aria n Song for solo voice with orchestral accompaniment, usually expressing an emotional state through its outpouring of melody; found in operas, oratorios, and cantatas
Affect n The one basic mood that usually lasts throughout a single movement or piece of a Baroque composition n Emotional states expressed in music were called “affections” n Exceptions can be found in some vocal music where the affect may change if the character’s emotional changes within an aria or recitative
Oratorio n Like opera - [Sung theatrical work with orchestral accompaniment for vocal soloists and chorus] , but unstaged [without acting, scenery, or costumes] n Uses a religious story n Example: GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL’s Messiah – "Hallelujah" CD#2/11 -16 – "Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted" CD#2/10
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL’s Messiah n "Hallelujah" – Listen for • Changes in texture –Hymn-like Homophony –Imitative Polyphony –Pedal Point • Emphasis of
Cantata n Like opera, but unstaged, n Usually with religious text & mostly performed in churches n The church cantata for the Lutheran service in Germany during the baroque period often includes chorales – Chorales are hymn tunes set to a German religious text n Example: J. S. BACH Cantata No. 140: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Sleepers Awake) Mvt.
J. S. BACH Cantata No. 140: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Sleepers Awake) n Mvt. 4 [Tenor Chorale] – Listen for n • Extremely ornamented melody • Continuous affect Mvt. 7 [Chorale] – Listen for • Hymn-like homophony • Complete and incomplete cadences
Chamber Music n Uses a small group of musicians, with one player to a part n Meant for smaller, more intimate performance venues n Includes music for solo instruments – J. S. Bach’s Organ Fugue in G Minor “The Little”
J. S. BACH Organ Fugue in G Minor (The "Little") n Fugue - polyphonic composition based on one main theme called a subject – Subject (Main Theme) stated in different “voices” during Exposition (imitative) – Exposition followed by alternating Episodes (non-imitative) and Subject Entries (imitative) – Countersubject - countermelody that accompanies Subject in Exposition & Subject Entries
Concerto Grosso n Composition for several instrumental soloists and small orchestra; common in late baroque music n Tutti vs. Soli groups – Tutti = “all, ” the entire ensemble – Soli = a small group of featured soloists (2 or 3) n Ritornello form - Ritornello (a homophonic or polyphonic block of music) alternating with Episodes
Examples of Baroque Concerto Grosso n J. S. Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major – Movement 1 n Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto for Violin and String Orchestra, Op. 8, No. 1, La Primavera [Spring] – from The Four Seasons – Movement 1
Baroque Music Style Characteristics Timbre new emphasis on instrumental music & instrumental accompaniment to voices Rhythm beat is emphasized; lots of forward motion Melody elaborate, ornamented, continuously expanding, long and winding Form one main theme repeated over and over Dynamic s sudden changes from loud to soft and soft to loud called terraced dynamics Texture more rapid changes in texture (homophony, imitative polyphony) throughout a single movement or piece of music Harmony new emphasis on chords; orchestra mainly consists of strings and basso continuo (bass melody instrument like cello or bassoon + chord generating instrument harpsichord, organ, or lute) Mood the same mood throughout movement; this heightened emotional state called affect (vocal music is exception; vocal music has many changes of mood, but closely follows text)
Henry Purcell
George Frideric Handel
Antonio Vivaldi
Johann Sebastian Bach
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