Baroque
Music
Baroque Music
Defining Characteristics
· Contrast as a dramatic element
o Differences between loud and soft, solo and ensemble, different instruments and timbres all play an important role in baroque compositions
o Composers became more precise about instrumentation – specifying the instruments on which piece should be played rather than having the performer choose
· Monody and the advent of the basso continuo
o “harmony” and “melody” truly began
o part of an effort to imitate ancient music
o more focus on a single voice with a simplified accompaniment, or monody
· different instrumental sounds
o has become increasingly popular over the last 50 yeas
§ different in pitch, timbre and performance technique
· thick and complex polyphonic texture
Significant Artists of the Time
Jonathan Sebastian Bach
o Genius keyboardist
o Brought baroque music to its culmination
o Wrote music for every type of musical form
o Popular works
- Air on a G string
- B Minor Mass
George Frideric Handel
o Composed for every musical genre of his time
o Created the english oratorio
o Popular works
- The messiah
- Music for the royal fireworks
Antonio Vivaldi
o Wrote over 500 concertos
o Most of his much was undiscovered until the early 1930s
o Popular works
- The four seasons
- Gloria
Relevant Timeframe and Where Baroque Music Originated
Baroque music's relevant timeline was between 1600 and 1750 and originated in Western Europe