Baroque

When was the Baroque period?

1600-1750

Who did musicians mostly perform for during the Baroque era?

Noblemen or aristocracy

Where were concerts held in the Baroque era?

Private venues: Royal palaces and courts

Mood of Baroque Music

Unity of mood in Baroque music; generally expressed at the beginning prevails until the end of the piece

Melody of Baroque Music

Opening melody heard again and again

Ryhthm of Baroque Music

Unity is also present in the rhythmic patterns heard, a steady pulse underpins the whole piece. Balanced phrases.

Dynamics of Baroque Music

Terraced dynamics, abrupt changes between dynamics

Texture of Baroque Music

Polyphonic, Homophonic, Contrapuntal

What is contrapuntal?

Independent melodies - similar to polophony

Harmony of Baroque Music

Reinforced by the organ or harpsichord, and the bass line formed the foundation of the harmony. Modulation is common.

Timbre of Baroque Music

Individual sound of instruments is often less important than the melody, rhythm and harmony

Ornamentation of Baroque Music

Baroque music contains many embellishments

Instrumentation of Baroque Music

Strings, lute, harpischord, flute, oboe, organ

Solo instruments in concertos of Baroque Music

Violin (most common), cello, oboe, organ, recorder, trumpet, bassoon

Solo concerto

Where a single soloist plays with an orchestra

Concerto grosso

Where a small group of instruments plays with a larger group of instruments

Ritornello form

A musical structure where the main theme is heard repeatedly between contrasting solo sections. The repetitions may be complete or shortened.

What is the continuo section?

Accompanying instruments: cello, lute, harpischord/organ

Theme

A musical idea, often a melody, that forms the basis for a piece

Concertino

small group of soloists within a concerto grosso

Ripieno

Larger group of orchestral musicians within a concerto grosso

Sequence

A motif or phrase which is repeated at a higher or lower pitch

Imitation

An entry by a voice or instrument that 'copies' the theme or fragment that has just been heard

Inversion

Musical device where the melody is turned upside down

Homophonic

Musical texture where there is a melody supported by harmony

Polophony

Musical texture containing two or more independent melodic lines, also described as contrapuntal

Fugue

A complex polyphonic genre for any number of parts, where a theme is stated consecutively by different instruments and then developed by imitation, changes of key and new melodies

Baroque Composers

Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Corelli

Unique Baroque instruments?

Lute, Harpsichord, Organ