3.9 The Late Baroque Period

late Baroque period timeframe

1700-1750

the age of absolutism

when people believed that the power of kings was absolute (term used by art/music historians, alt is age of science)

the age of science

the time of Newton, calculus, philosophy (other term is the age of absolutism)

Louis XIV

"the sun king" of France, supported the arts greatly, valued pomp and ceremony

T/F late Baroque arts valued theatre and strong emotion

True

late Baroque changes in scales

tempered/tuned, so 24 keys were available and standardized

harmony in late Baroque

logical

rhythm in late Baroque

more regular

form in late Baroque

more regular and clear

three institutions for composers

church, court, opera house

meter in late Baroque

clear, emphasized by one instrument, generally the harpsichord

dynamics in late Baroque

not often indications, typically remained at the same level for long sections

tone color in late Baroque

options given in pieces for instruments, so it was varied- not particularly critical

core of late Baroque orchestra

violin

melody in late Baroque

complex, decorated, common use of sequence

ornamentation

addition of fast notes and vocal effects to a melody, often improvised at the time (riffs, etc.)

standard texture of late Baroque era

polyphony

figured bass

musical shorthand of numbers under the bass line indicating chords for continuo