Baroque period music history

Dates of the Baroque Period

1600-1750

Original meaning of the word "Baroque"

term of disappproval

absolute monarch

A king or queen who has unlimited power and seeks to control all aspects of society

Sir Issac Newton

Foremost scientist of the Baroque Period

Palace of Versailles

A large royal residence built in the seventeenth century by King Louis XIV of France, near Paris. The palace, with its lavish gardens and fountains, is a spectacular example of French classical architecture. The Hall of Mirrors is particularly well known. The peace treaty that formally ended World War I was negotiated and signed here as well.

Concerto

a musical composition for a solo instrument or instruments accompanied by an orchestra, especially one conceived on a relatively large scale.

Early Baroque

1600-1700

Late Baroque

1700-1750

Opera

a dramatic work in one or more acts, set to music for singers and instrumentalists. Includes elaborate sets, costumes, moving stories, expressive acting, and dramatic music

Cantata

Written for instruments and 1 or 2 voices, portrays a single scene or situation

church cantata

A cantata with religious words

chamber cantata

cantata that was secular, telling stories of love lost and found

dance suite

a collection of instrumental dances, each with its own distinctive rhythm and character

Oratorio

a large scale work (like an opera) musical composition for voices and orchestra based on a religious text. Narrator sings the story and the other singers sing the words of the people in the story.

basso continuo

Baroque accompaniment made up of a bass part usually played by two instruments: a keyboard plus a low melodic instrument.

monody

a general term connoting solo singing accompanied by a basso continuo in the early Baroque period

Claudio Monteverdi

one of the most important composers of the 17th century, composed Orfeo (1607), the oldest opera still in performance

Recitative

vocal line that imitates the rhythms and pitch fluctuations of speech. Usually sung by one singer and basso continuo

aria

operatic solo; a song sung by one person and accompanied by a full orchestra

Orfeo

The first opera in the history of Western music composed by Monteverdi

Henry Purcell

Baroque composer from England. Was an organist at Westminster Abbey in London.

Dido and Aenas

Short opera written by Henry Purcell

Commonwealth period

period in England where music positions were abolished and theaters and opera houses were closed.

Sonata

instrumental genre in several movements for soloist or small ensemble

Solo sonata

single instrument with basso continuo

trio sonata

two instruments with basso continuo

concerto grosso

Baroque concerto type based on the opposition between a small group of solo instruments (the concertino) and orchestra (the ripieno).

Virtuoso

"show off" element

Arcangelo Corelli

First composer to bringItalian violin music to international prominence. One of the first composers to become famous from just instrumental music. Best known as a composer of the trio sonata.

Minuet

French origin, simple triple meter, moderate tempo dance

Jean-Baptiste Lully

French composer (born in Italy) who was the court composer to Louis XIV and founded the national French opera (1632-1687)

Opera Seria

A term for the serious, heroic opera of the Baroque period in Italy

Opera Buffa

Italian comic opera

Three most important composers of the Late Baroque

Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel

Antonio Vivaldi

Master of the concerto in the late Baroque. Most famous compositions were the Four Seasons.

The Red Priest

Antonio Vivaldi

Program Music

music that is intended to evoke images, convey the impression of events, and tell a story

Domenico Scarlatti

Spanish composer who was a prolific composer of sonatas for solo instruments. Wrote over 600 sonatas.

Harpsichord Virtuoso

Domenico Scarlatti

Johann Sebastian Bach

One of the most influential composers of ALL TIME. German composer whose death date marks the end of the Baroque period.

Soli Deo Gloria

For the glory of God alone

Toccata

a virtuoso piece common during the Baroque Period, written in free style with many scales and rapid passages

Fugue

Polyphonic composition based on one main theme, or subject.

George Frideric Handel

German composer who traveled extensively and wrote Water Music and The Messiah.

Giulio Cesare

Handel opera based on the story of Caesar and Cleopatra

The Messiah

Most famous oratorio written by Handel

Toccata and Fugue in D minor

Organ piece written by Bach