The Baroque Era

Opera

A baroque dramatic genre set to music and features singers accompanied by an orchestra.

Homophonic Texture

Single dominant melodic line supported by chordal accompaniment. It is a primary texture of the early baroque.

Basso continuo

Musical system focused on chords and harmony, serving as an importance of Baroque music

Word painting

Musical representation of specific poetic images or words.

Dominant Tonic Relationship

The important harmonic progression that gained popularity in late baroque music as major and minor scales.

Court Music Director

High paying prestigious position

Church Music Director

Responsible for composing service music, train choir boys for but less pay.

Baroque Orchestra

10-30 musicians built around the basso continuo and strings.

Polyphonic Texture

Featuring two or more melodic lines. It is favored heavily in the Late Baroque.