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RONDO FORM

  • Rondo Form (Rondeau):

    • Structure: A B A C A D A (etc.)

    • Characteristics: One theme returns after a section of contrasting material (usually of equal length).

    • Similarity: Similar to ritornello.

    • Example: Henry Purcell – Rondeau from Abdelazer (1695).

BAROQUE COMPOSERS

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

  • Background:

    • Father was a violinist in St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice.

    • Vivaldi was also a skilled violinist.

  • Portrait: Francois Morellon de la Cave - Portrait of Antonio Vivaldi (1723).

BAROQUE COMPOSERS

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

  • Education and Work:

    • Taught at and composed for the School of the Pietà.

    • The School of the Pietà was an all-girls school.

    • It was said that their orchestra was one of the finest in Italy at the time.

  • Portrait: Francois Morellon de la Cave - Portrait of Antonio Vivaldi (1723).

VIVALDI’S MUSIC (CONCERTO)

  • Musical Genres:

    • Vivaldi composed in many genres (including church music and operas),

    • However, he is most well-known for his solo concertos.

VIVALDI'S MUSIC (CONCERTO)

SOLO CONCERTO

  • Definition: A piece written for a single soloist accompanied by an orchestra.

VIVALDI'S MUSIC (CONCERTO)

Characteristics of Music:

  • Known for “vigorous rhythms” especially in fast movements.

  • Common features include:

    • Consecutive, repeating scales.

    • Consecutive, repeating arpeggios.

ARPEGGIO

  • Definition: A broken chord whereby the notes are played in succession rather than simultaneously.

  • Example:

    • C Major chord

    • C Major arpeggio.

CADENZA

  • Definition:

    • Special unaccompanied showpiece, often featuring a virtuoso passage.

    • Typically inserted near the end of a concerto movement or aria.

  • Indicators: Usually signified by the appearance of a fermata over an inconclusive chord.

SOLO CONCERTO

  • Characteristics Recap:

    • “Vigorous rhythms”

    • Consecutive, repeating scales and arpeggios.

  • Example: Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto in D Major, RV 212 (1712).

CONCERTO GROSSO

  • Definition:

    • A form involving a small group of soloists (2-4) contrasted with a larger group (tutti), consisting of 8 to 20 or more musicians.

  • Instrumentation:

    • Tutti section primarily consists of string instruments with a basso continuo (harpsichord).

    • Performances typically occur in private orchestras (e.g., court settings).

CONCERTO GROSSO

Structure:

  • Consists of several movements that contrast in tempo and character.

    • Typical structure is three movements:

    • 1st – Fast (often in ritornello form).

    • 2nd – Slow, more quiet, and lyrical.

    • 3rd – Fast (often in ritornello form).

RITORNELLO FORM

  • Definition:

    • A structure involving alternation between tutti and solo sections.

  • Characteristics:

    • Ritornello (refrain): Theme played by tutti, which may appear in different keys and fragments during a movement.

    • Concludes with the entire ritornello returning in the home key.

RITORNELLO FORM

  • Detailed Structure:

    • Formed of sections:

    • Tutti (f): ritornello in home key.

    • Solo.

    • Tutti (f): ritornello fragment.

    • Solo.

    • Tutti (f): ritornello fragment.

    • Solo.

    • Tutti (f): ritornello in home key.

CONCERTO GROSSO

  • Example: Antonio Vivaldi - Concerto for Four Violins in B Minor, Op. 3 No. 10 (1711).

(BAROQUE) PROGRAM MUSIC

  • Definition:

    • Instrumental music that is associated with a story, poem, idea, or scene.

  • Historical Context:

    • Serves as a forerunner to the romantic period.

THE FOUR SEASONS

  • Work: Antonio Vivaldi – The Four Seasons (1718-20).

  • Spring (Concerto No. 1 in E Major):

    • Allegro:

    • "Spring has arrived with joy, welcomed by the birds with happy songs, and the brooks, amidst gentle breezes, murmur sweetly as they flow.

    • The sky is caped in black, and thunder and lightning herald a storm.

    • When they fall silent, the birds take up again their delightful songs. "

    • Largo e pianissimo sempre:

    • "In the pleasant, blossom-filled meadow, to the gentle murmur of leaves and plants, the goatherd sleeps, his faithful dog beside him."

    • Allegro:

    • "To the merry sounds of a rustic bagpipe, nymphs and shepherds dance in their beloved spot when Spring appears in splendour."

ORNAMENTATION

  • Definition:

    • Elaborate musical decorations added to enhance the beauty of a melody.

  • Example - Trill:

    • Rapid alternation of two tones that are a whole or half step apart.

    • Notation:

    • Symbols denote this ornamentation in the musical score.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

  • Composers:

    • Händel, Bach, and others wrote sets of instrumental pieces referred to as suites.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

Suites

  • Origin:

    • Dates back to the Medieval period, initially comprising groups of dances.

  • Characteristics:

    • Individual movements that are often thematically or tonally linked.

    • Typically remain in the same key but vary in tempo, meter, and character.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

  • Example: G.F. Handel - Water Music Suite No. 2 (1717).

BAROQUE COMPOSERS

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

  • Context:

    • Year of death signifies the end of the Baroque period.

  • Family Background:

    • Comes from a long lineage of musicians (father, grandfather, great-grandfather).

  • Portrait: Elias Gottlob Haussmann - Portrait of J.S. Bach (1748).

BAROQUE COMPOSERS

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

  • Family:

    • Had 20 children, 9 of whom survived to adulthood.

    • 4 of his children became composers:

    • Carl Philip Emmanuel Bach.

    • Wilhelm Friedemann Bach.

    • Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach.

    • Johann Christian Bach.

  • Portrait: Elias Gottlob Haussmann - Portrait of J.S. Bach (1748).

J.S. BACH

  • Employment:

    • Served as director of music at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany.

    • Involved in teaching musicians at St. Thomas School.

  • Organization:

    • Collegium Musicum: An organization for students.

    • St. Thomas Church: Established in the 13th century, with renovations completed between 1884-89.

J.S. BACH

  • Teaching Methods:

    • Taught students the organ and provided organ recitals.

    • Premiered many works with students at a local coffee house (Café Zimmermann).

  • Location: Café Zimmermann, depicted in a detail of an engraving by Johann George Schreiber [de], c. 1720.

KEYBOARD WORKS

  • Notable Work:

    • Some of Bach’s most well-known works are found in his book of etudes (exercises) titled The Well-Tempered Clavier.

    • This book consists of a collection of preludes and fugues.

KEYBOARD WORKS

The Well-Tempered Clavier

  • Definition:

    • "Clavier" refers to any keyboard instrument of the time, like the harpsichord, clavichord, fortepiano, or organ.

INSTRUMENTS

Harpsichord

  • Construction: Original design by Andreas Ruckers in Antwerp (1646), remodelled and expanded by Pascal Taskin in Paris (1780).

INSTRUMENTS

Clavichord

  • Example: Italian clavichord (Lepanto clavichord) highlights the naval battle of 1571 in the Gulf of Lepanto, housed at Musée de la Musique, Paris.

INSTRUMENTS

Fortepiano

  • Example: A fortepiano from 1720 made by Cristofori, showcased in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

KEYBOARD WORKS

  • Prelude:

    • Definition: An introduction or preface to another work; could also stand alone.

  • Fugue:

    • Definition: A polyphonic composition that is structured around one main theme known as the subject.

    • Features multiple melodic lines (called voices) that imitate the subject.

KEYBOARD WORKS

  • Notable Quote:

    • "For the profit and use of musical youth desirous of learning, and especially for the pastime of those already skilled in this study."

The Well-Tempered Clavier

  • Example:

    • J.S. Bach – Prelude in C Major, BWV 846 (1722) features arpeggios and sets a particular mood.

ADDITIONAL WORK

  • Ave Maria - Bach/Gounod (1853).