the baroque era

Baroque Era dates

1600 - 1750

terraced dynamics

the dynamics change suddenly from loud to quiet or vice versa.

tierce de picardie

a major chord at the end of a piece in a minor key.

harpsichord

the main keyboard instrument used as the piano had not yet been invented. the strings are plucked instead of hit.

ornaments

the melody is decorated with these. some examples are - trills and mordents.

polyphonic texture in the Baroque Era

this is the most typically used texture. lots of melody lines being played at the same time.

basso continuo

the term used to describe a bass instrument (cello) playing the bass line, and a keyboard instrument (harpsichord or organ) playing chords based on the notes of the bass line.

ground bass

a repeating bass line.

imitation / canon

a melody line is repeated by a different instrument / voice after a short period of time.

3 famous Baroque composers

J.S Bach

Vivaldi

Pachelbel