Baroque Period Exam Study Guide

absolutism

A political doctrine and practice where a single ruler holds absolute power.

aristocratic patronage

Support and funding provided by the aristocracy to artists and musicians.

Artusi

An Italian music theorist known for his criticism of Monteverdi's work.

Baroque

A style of European art and music that flourished from the late 16th century to the early 18th century.

basso continuo (or figured bass)

A form of musical accompaniment used in the Baroque period, consisting of a bass line and harmonies.

chromaticism

The use of notes outside the standard scale, creating tension and color in music.

civic patronage

Support and funding provided by city governments or civic organizations to artists and musicians.

concertato

A style of composition that contrasts different groups of instruments or voices.

ecclesiastical patronage

Support and funding provided by the church to artists and musicians.

figured bass realization

The process of interpreting and performing the harmonies indicated by figured bass notation.

Monteverdi

An Italian composer known for his pivotal role in the development of opera.

Prima pratica (First Practice)

A style of music composition that emphasizes the rules of counterpoint.

Seconda pratica (Second Practice)

A style of music composition that allows for more expressive freedom and emotional content.

Theory of the Affects (or Doctrine of Affections)

A Baroque theory that music should evoke specific emotions in the listener.

tonality

The organization of music around a central pitch or tonic.

aria

A solo vocal piece, typically in an opera, showcasing the singer's expressive capabilities.

Giovanni Bardi

An Italian nobleman and music theorist associated with the early development of opera.

Caccini

An Italian composer known for his contributions to early opera and monody.

castrato

A male singer who was castrated before puberty to retain a high vocal range.

chorus

A group of singers performing together, often in a musical or theatrical context.

diva cult

The phenomenon of adoration and celebrity surrounding female opera singers.

ensemble

A group of musicians performing together.

Farinelli

A famous castrato singer of the 18th century known for his extraordinary vocal talent.

Florentine Camerata

A group of intellectuals in Florence who discussed and developed early opera.

Vincenzo Galilei

An Italian lutenist and music theorist who influenced the development of opera.

intermedi

Musical interludes performed between acts of a play, often featuring elaborate music and dance.

libretto

The text or script of an opera or musical.

liturgical drama

A form of medieval drama that is based on biblical stories and performed in church.

madrigal cycle

A series of madrigals that are connected thematically or narratively.

Girolamo Mei

An Italian music theorist who contributed to the development of early opera.

Orfeo

An early opera by Monteverdi, based on the myth of Orpheus.

opera

A dramatic work combining music, singing, and sometimes dance.

Peri

An Italian composer known for his early operatic works, including 'Dafne'.

recitative

A style of vocal music that mimics speech patterns, used in operas and oratorios.

ritornello

A recurring theme or passage in a musical composition, often found in concertos.

sinfonia

An orchestral piece that serves as an introduction to an opera or other musical work.

basso ostinato

A repeated bass line that serves as the foundation for a musical composition.

cantata

A vocal composition with instrumental accompaniment, often in several movements.

Carissimi

An Italian composer known for his sacred music and cantatas.

chamber music

Music composed for a small group of instruments, typically performed in intimate settings.

clavichord

A keyboard instrument that produces sound by striking strings with metal tangents.

Girolamo Frescobaldi

An Italian composer and organist known for his keyboard music.

fugue

A contrapuntal composition where a theme is introduced and developed through interwoven voices.

Giovanni Gabrieli

An Italian composer known for his contributions to the development of polychoral music.

harpsichord

A keyboard instrument that produces sound by plucking strings, prevalent in the Baroque period.

lament

A musical expression of grief or sorrow.

notes inégales

A performance practice in French Baroque music where notes are played with unequal durations.

oratorio

A large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists, typically based on a religious theme.

ornamentation (or embellishment)

Decorative musical flourishes added to a melody to enhance expressiveness.

organ

A large keyboard instrument that produces sound by forcing air through pipes.

overdotting

A performance practice where dotted notes are played longer than their written value.

polychoral motet

A type of motet that features multiple choirs singing in alternation.

sacred concerto

A vocal composition with religious themes, typically for soloists and instruments.

Heinrich Schütz

A German composer known for his sacred music and early use of the concertato style.

Stile antico

A style of composition that adheres to the rules of Renaissance counterpoint.

Stile moderno

A style of composition that embraces the expressive and dramatic elements of the Baroque.

Barbara Strozzi

A prominent female composer of the Baroque period known for her vocal music.

Style brisé

A style of lute music characterized by broken chords and intricate counterpoint.

toccata

A virtuosic piece for keyboard or other instruments, often featuring rapid passages.

24 Violons du roi (24 Violins of the King)

A group of violinists who performed at the court of King Louis XIV.

air

A simple melody or song, often used in operas and vocal music.

French overture

A musical form typically used as an introduction to an opera or suite, characterized by a slow introduction followed by a fast section.

King Louis XIV

The French monarch known for his patronage of the arts and establishment of a grand court culture.

Lully

A composer who was instrumental in the development of French opera and the French overture.

masque

A form of festive courtly entertainment that included music, dancing, and acting.

motet: petit motet, grand motet

Types of motets; petit motets are shorter and simpler, while grand motets are longer and more elaborate.

Purcell

An English composer known for his operas and vocal music.

tragédie lyrique

A French opera genre that combines drama, music, and dance.

zarzuela

A Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes.

Abendmusiken

Evening concerts held in the church, particularly associated with Buxtehude.

Buxtehude

A Danish-German composer known for his organ music and sacred works.

concerto (also solo concerto vs. concerto grosso)

A musical composition for a solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra; solo concerto features one soloist, while concerto grosso features a group of soloists.

Corelli

An Italian composer known for his contributions to the development of the concerto grosso and sonata.

da capo aria

An aria in ternary form (ABA) where the first section is repeated after a contrasting middle section.

diva culture

The phenomenon surrounding the celebrity status of female opera singers.

Keiser

A German composer known for his operas and contributions to the development of German opera.

opera seria

A genre of serious opera that focuses on noble characters and tragic themes.

prelude

An introductory piece of music that sets the mood for a larger work.

A. Scarlatti

An Italian composer known for his keyboard sonatas and operas.

sonata (also solo sonata vs. trio sonata, chamber sonata vs. church sonata)

A musical composition for one or more instruments; solo sonata features one instrument, trio sonata features three, and chamber sonata is for small ensembles.

Couperin

A French composer known for his harpsichord music and contributions to the French Baroque style.

Ospedale

An institution in Venice that provided care and education, known for its music programs.

Pietà

A term referring to the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Jesus, often depicted in art and music.

Rameau

A French composer and music theorist known for his operas and theoretical writings.

ritornello form

A musical structure commonly used in concertos, where a recurring theme alternates with contrasting episodes.

Traité de l'harmonie (Treatise on Harmony)

A foundational text on music theory written by Rameau.

Vivaldi

An Italian composer known for his concertos, especially 'The Four Seasons.'

J.S. Bach

A German composer and musician of the Baroque period, known for his complex compositions.

Handel

A German-born composer who became a prominent figure in English music, known for his operas and oratorios.

The Well-Tempered Clavier

A collection of keyboard music by J.S. Bach that explores all major and minor keys.

The Messiah

An oratorio by Handel that is one of the most performed choral works in Western music.

Sonata

A musical composition typically for one or two instruments, often structured in multiple movements.

Solo Sonata

A sonata written for a single instrument, usually accompanied by a keyboard or continuo.

Trio Sonata

A sonata composed for three instruments, typically featuring two melody instruments and a continuo.

Church Sonata

A type of sonata intended for performance in a church setting, often with a more serious tone.

Chamber Sonata

A sonata designed for performance in a small room or chamber, often more intimate in nature.

Ospedali

Institutions in Venice that educated orphaned girls in music, leading to popular performances.

J.S. Bach's Career Periods

The three distinct phases of Bach's career, which include his time in Arnstadt, Köthen, and Leipzig.

Handel's Best-Known Genres

The two primary genres for which Handel was renowned in London: opera and oratorio.

Public Concerts

Events that were first popularized in England, particularly in London during the 1670s.