Why Baroque Music is Valued Today
By: Grace Deng
Baroque Music
The term baroque means elaborate form, and during this time period art focused on the dramatic, a frozen moment in time, light contrast, and emotional response. The main source of entertainment for the aristocracy was music. Opera was the most important new musical form of the Baroque Era and many opera composers such as Claudio Monteverdi became well known and introduced new types of music works. Those who could not afford to listen to professionals often were exposed to music in the church, because there were few public concerts.
Musicians
Many composers composed the music of other countries, instead of their own. This lead to a mixing of cultures throughout Europe because of music. Baroque style changed throughout the Era, which a movement to monody at the beginning but a return to polyphony in the late Baroque. Many musicians learned their skills through apprenticeships or as choristers, or from family members who were musicians. Many musicians became very technically advanced and many others were talented in improvisation.
Types of Music and Instuments
The Operas combined singing and instrumental music with action, scenery, costumes and the poetry or libertto being sung. The Opera is comrised of both instrumental movments, such as the overture or interlude, as well as vocal movements accompanied by the orchestra. Another famous Composer at the time as Johann Sebastian Bach. His works included sacred works, secular cantatas, orchestral music, chamber music, keyboard music and organ music. The most important keyboard instruments during the Baroque Era were the organ, clavichord and the harpsichord.