MUSIC Baroque music

Baroque music

dramatic, ornate, and full of contrast, laying the foundation for many forms and styles in later Western music

Pre-Baroque Music

Before the Baroque period (1600–1750)

Pre-Baroque Music

mainly refers to the Medieval (500–1400) and Renaissance (1400–1600) eras

Pre-Baroque Music

introduced polyphony, harmony, and structured

Medieval Period

Famous composers: Hildegard von Bingen, Guillaume de Machaut

Medieval Period

Instruments: harp, lute, recorder, early organ

Medieval Period

Early polyphony: organum, motets

Medieval Period

Gregorian Chant (monophonic texture

Medieval Period

Sacred music dominated (mostly for the Church)

Renaissance Period

Focus on beauty, balance, and humanism

Renaissance Period

Polyphony perfected: multiple independent voices

Renaissance Period

Sacred & secular genres: Masses, motets, madrigals

Renaissance Period

Instruments: viol, lute, harpsichord, sackbut, cornett

Renaissance Period

Famous composers: Josquin des Prez, Palestrina, Thomas Tallis

Baroque Music

Highly decorative and dramatic style

Baroque Music

Basso continuo (continuous bass line)

Baroque Music

Emphasis on contrast: loud vs. soft, solo vs. ensemble

Baroque Music

New genres: opera, oratorio, concerto, suite

Baroque Music

Famous composers: J.S. Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Monteverdi

Claudio Monteverdi

who hailed from Cremona, Italy, created eight books of madrigals, three masses, vespers, magnificats, motets, as well as 12 operas, of which three were surviving

Claudio Monteverdi

was among the Italian madrigalist who innovated in harmony and chromaticisms

Claudio Monteverdi

He also helped establish the Baroque monody and basso continou

Heinrich Schutz

a native of Saxony region in what is now Germany

Heinrich Schutz

“the greatest German composer of the 17th century”

Heinrich Schutz

His compositions are varied and includes Italian madrigals, Lutheran sacred compositions, motets, oratorios, and passions

Ornamentation

decorative notes, trills, embellishments

Contrast

sudden shifts in dynamics (loud/soft), solo vs. ensemble

Unity of mood

movement usually expresses a single emotion (e.g., joy, sadness)

Terraced dynamics

step-like changes in volume instead of gradual crescendos

Rhythmic drive

steady, energetic rhythm that propels the music forward

Polyphony

weaving multiple independent melodic lines together

Basso continuo

continuous bass line with chords (usually harpsichord + cello/bassoon)

Melody

·        A single melodic idea

Rhythm

Continuous rhythmic drive

Texture

Balance of homophonic (melody with chordal harmony) and polyphonic textures

Timbre

Orchestral - strings, winds and harpsichord with very little percussion

Dynamic

Abrupt shift from loud to soft- achieved by adding or subtracting instruments

Opera

staged drama with music (Monteverdi, Handel).

Oratorio

large-scale sacred work for voices and orchestra, no staging (Handel’s Messiah).

Cantata

shorter vocal composition, often for church services (Bach)

Concerto Grosso

small group of soloists vs. orchestra (Corelli, Vivaldi)

Solo Concerto

one soloist with orchestra (Vivaldi’s Four Seasons)

Fugue

complex polyphonic form (Bach’s The Art of Fugue)

Dance Suite

set of instrumental dances (Bach’s French Suites)

Johann Sebastian Bach

(Germany) – master of counterpoint, fugues, sacred & instrumental music

George Frideric Handel

(Germany/England) – famous for Messiah, operas, and oratorios.

Antonio Vivaldi

Italy master of the concerto, The Four Seasons.

Claudio Monteverdi

Italy) – early Baroque opera composer (Orfeo).

Arcangelo Corelli

(Italy) – developed concerto grosso and violin technique.

Domenico Scarlatti

Italy/Spain) – known for virtuosic harpsichord sonatas.