MUL202 Baroque Period

09/22/25

Put composers in order of nationality

Italian, German, French, English

Name the Italian Composers

Monteverdi, Corelli, A.Scarlatti, D.Scarlatti, Vivaldi

Name the German Composers

Froberger, Telemann, J.S. Bach, Handel

Name the French Composers

Lully, Couperine, Rameau

Name the English Composers

Purcell

What is going on in history during the Baroque Period?

Period of religious conflict and one of most revolutionary music periods of all time

What forms were created during this period?

Opera, oratorio, the sonata, the concerto, the suite, and the fugue 

Who became the leaders of music?

Germany because of the composers (Composer Schutz as well)

What were the compositional styles?

1st practice/Stile Antico (contrapuntal) and 2nd Practice/Stile Moderno (homophonic)

What is the foundation of baroque music?

Basso Continuo

How many moods are there in a piece?

Generally one or two moods continued throughout whole piece 

What is the doctrine of affections?

the universally accepted belief that music was the physical embodiment of feelings, moods, and emotions and was essential for the composer to evoke them in compositions

Who was the Florentine Camerata 

A group of philosophers, writers, and composers based in Florence, Italy at the end of the 16th century who felt the music of the time was too complex to set to text due to the contrapuntal texture. Meanings of texts no longer understandable. Looked back to Ancient Greek culture for their model. 

Who made the first opera and when?

Jacopi Peri in 1597

What does recitative mean?

Half sung, half spoken

What plays the basso continuo in opera?

A low string instrument and a harpsichord

What is figured bass?

Numbers above the baseline indicating what chord and what inversion to play 

Who is Monteverdi?

Greatest composer of the early Baroque period L’Orfeo in 1607 becomes first great opera. Used both practices

What is an aria?

A purely sung form that is now receded by a recitative. Recitative tells a story and aria enables character to reflect upon personal effect of action 

Who is A. Scarlatti?

Most important composer of late baroque period. Popularized da capo aria which later evolves into the symphony  

What is the da capo aria?

Ternary form ABA

What is the Italian Overture form?

Fast-Slow-Fast

French Opera

Est. by J.B. Lully. Includes ballet techniques, better text because of spectacle, special effects. Tempo structure= slow-fast. Greatest master is J.P. Rameau

English Opera 

Only one great masterpiece, Dido and Aeneas by Purcell. Uses ground bass in the most popular aria of the work

What is ground bass?

recurring chromatic series of intervals over which a melody is constructed

What is oratorio?

contain recitatives, arias and choral sections, subject matter is religious and not staged. Greatest master is Handel

What is a cantata?

means sung, used for secular and liturgical subject matters. J.S. Bach greatest master 

Liturgical Cantata

written for specific date and was intended to illuminate the biblical readings for that day

Lutheran Cantata 

written not in Latin and incorporates hymns usually used in Sunday services.

What is a German suite?

form that links together a number of different dance movements. key change between movements. Basis of the suite is a) Allemande (German dance); b) Courante (French), or Corrente (Italian), Sarabande (Spanish) and Gigue (English)- Froberger. Only Sarabande has repetition embroidered by performer. Bach, Telemann, and Handel greatest masters 

French Suite

had genre pieces. popularized by F. Couperin. developed by Rameau

Orchestral Suites

Incorporates dance and genre movements, usually written for specific occasions. Embodies contrasts; dynamic contrasts and instrumental color contrast

Trio Sonata

2 solo instruments ( 2 violins or combo of string and wind) and 2 continuo instruments. 3 lines of music, 4 players. Continuo consists of low string (playing notes on 3rd line) and keyboard (harmonies through figured bass). Da camera (chamber/dance) and da chiesa (church). 

Duo sonata

1 solo instrument and 1 continuo

Concerto Grossi

(Da camera or da chiesa) 2 groups of instruments. Large orchestral body known as ripieno/tutti while group of soloists is concertino. Most famous one composed by Corelli

Solo Concerto

Single soloist replaces concertino. Ritornello form (reoccurring)

Fugue

commonly written in 3 or 4 parts (voices)

George Frederick Handel

Regarded by Beethoven as best composer who ever lived, 1st biography of him written one year after his death

J.S. Bach

Greatest master of contrapuntal music. Considered by many to be best composer of all time. Self-taught. Many pieces forgotten for 75 years after death.