Baroque orchestraFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Baroque orchestra is the type of orchestra that existed during the Baroque period, commonly identified as

1600-1750. [1] Its origins were in France where Jean-Baptiste Lully added the newly re-designed hautbois and

transverse flutes to his vingt-quatre violons du Roy. As well as violins and woodwinds, the baroque orchestra

contained continuo instruments such as the theorbo and harpsichord.

In the Baroque period, the orchestra was not standardised in size. There were large differences in size,

instrumentation and playing styles - and therefore orchestral soundscapes and palettes - between the various

European regions. The 'Baroque orchestra' ranged from smaller orchestras (or ensembles) with one player per

part, to larger scale orchestras with many players per part. Examples of the smaller variety were Bach's

orchestras, for example in Koethen where he had access to an ensemble of up to 18 players. Examples of large

scale Baroque orchestras would include Corelli's orchestra in Rome which ranged between 35 and 80 players

for day-to-day performances, being enlarged to 150 players for special occasions.

The term 'Baroque orchestra' is commonly used today to refer to chamber orchestras giving historically

informed performances of baroque or classical on period instruments or replicas. The period-instrument revival

during the 1970s inspired the development of the first period-instrument baroque orchestras, led by Nikolaus

Harnoncourt, Gustav Leonhardt and Frans Bruggen. Since then many baroque orchestras have been formed

across Europe, as well as some in North America. Baroque orchestras of today include:

The Academy of Ancient Music

American Bach Soloists

Apollo’s Fire: The Cleveland Baroque Orchestra

Arion Baroque Orchestra, Artistic Director : Claire Guimond, Montreal, Canada

Les Arts Florissants

The Hague's Baroque Orchestra: The New Dutch Academy

Boston Baroque

Bourbon Baroque: Louisville's Period Instrument Ensemble

Atlanta Baroque Orchestra

Concerto Italiano

Concerto Köln

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Portland Baroque Orchestra

The English Baroque Soloists

The English Concert

Europa Galante

Florilegium

Freiburger Barockorchester

Hespèrion XX and Hespèrion XXI

Il Giardino Armonico

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Musica Antiqua Köln

New Trinity Baroque

Newport Baroque Orchestra

Les Paladins

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra

Taverner Consort and Players

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra

Barocco sempre giovane

La Chapelle Rhénane

Contents

1 Instrumentation

2 Recordings of baroque music

3 References

4 See also

Instrumentation

Group of 5 sections

Woodwinds

2 Flutes

2 Oboe

2 Bassoons

Brass

2 Horns (in any key)

2 Trumpets (in any key)

Percussion

Timpani

Keyboards

Harpsichord

Strings

6 Violins I

6 Violins II

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4 Violas

2 Violoncellos

1 Bass

Theorbo

Recordings of baroque music

Corelli Concerti Grossi (http://simonmurphy.instantencore.com/web/music_details.aspx?ItemId=885936)

Antonio Vivaldi, Pietro Locatelli (http://www.baroccosempre.com/download.php)

References

^ Wade-Matthews, Max and Wendy Thompson. The Encyclopedia of Music. London: Hermes House, 2004.

Retrieved 10 September 2011

1.

See also

List of early music ensembles, for more Baroque orchestras

Orchestra, see: history of the orchestra

Discover Music of the Baroque Era

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Categories: Baroque instruments Chamber orchestras

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