• Renaissance instruments fell out of favor

• Orchestra: An ensemble of music, organized around a core of strings, with added woodwinds and brasses, playing with the assistance of a leader

Instrumental music became prominent in the 17th-century with the rising popularity of the violin

Harpsichord used for basso continuo

Gradually added:◦ Pairs of woodwinds ◦ Occasionally trumpets and

tympani◦ Sometimes French horns

France, King Louis XIV◦The “Sun King” – styled himself after god Apollo

◦Absolutism, “I AM the state.”◦Versailles – largest court in history

King Louis XIV reigned for 72 years! After his death, his grandson Louis XV became king.◦ Louis XV employed a composer named Jean-Joseph

Mouret◦ We have selected a typical piece by him, among

thousands of similar works. Lots of instrumental music was churned out for activities of royals at this time.

◦ Mouret, Rondeau from Suite de symphonies, features the trumpet in a bright and distinct fanfare/melody

Copy and paste this link to watch a version of this piece.◦ Organist – Peter Solomn◦ Trumpet – Marcus Wursch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZukLuZQeNHo

Born in Southern Germany and began his music studies there

Moved to Vienna in 1671 where he was a student and deputy organist at the Imperial chapel

Known in his day as a prolific composer for harpsichord and organ

Pachelbel was organ teacher for Johann Christoph Bach, the older brother and only known teacher of Johann Sebastian Bach. Influenced young JS Bach.

Idiomatic Writing: Musical composition that exploits the strengths of a particular voice or instrument

All of these late Baroque composers we are studying were masters of Idiomatic Writing.

Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major - intro cd #10 Listening Guide p. 112

◦Canon is played by 3 violins, all in the same range◦Low strings and harpsichord play plodding basso

continuo◦Basso continuo has pleasing

intervallic pattern: fourths alternating with steps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvNQLJ1_HQ0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM

Originated in Italy Baroque Sonata: A collection of instrumental movements,

each with its own mood and tempo, but all in the same key◦Chamber Sonata (sonata da camera): featured dance

movements, such as “allemande,” “sarabande,” “gavotte,” or “gigue;” four movements: slow-fast-slow-fast

Solo Sonata: Written either for solo keyboard instrument or solo melody instrument (such as violin)

Trio Sonata: Soloist and two basso continuo performers◦Sometimes a fourth instrument, harpsichord, is added to

bass

Italian, born near Bologna Spent his career in Rome Violin virtuoso/composer,

teacher, one of the 1st violin superstars

His Baroque and trio sonatas became internationally popular

First composer to utilize harmonic schemes that sound “modern” to our ears

Only musician buried in Rome’s Pantheon, a hall of fame of Italian culture and former temple

Chamber sonata for two violins and basso continuo (harpsichord and cello)

Four movements: Preludio, Corrente, Adagio, Allemanda Use of a walking bass: moves stepwise, up or down

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4HtXlO5_o8

This is a different sonata than one in book, similar…

Concerto: An instrumental genre in which one or more soloists play with and against a larger orchestra◦Solo concerto: one soloist◦Concerto grosso: small group of soloists (concertino)◦Tutti: full orchestra

Three movements: fast-slow-fast Ritornello form: Main theme (ritornello) returns again

and again; alternates with solo, virtuosic sections Popularity peaked about 1730 Solo concerto continued to be cultivated during the

Classical and Romantic period◦Became a showcase for a single soloist

Section Ritornello Solo Rit. Solo Rit. Solo Final Rit.

Group Tutti Concertino Tutti Concertino Tutti Concertino Tutti

number of alternations determined by composer

All or part of a main theme returns All or part of a main theme returns Tutti plays ritornello theme(s) Tutti plays ritornello theme(s) Concertino alternates with virtuosic Concertino alternates with virtuosic passages passages Free number of alternations Free number of alternations

Movement = self-contained section of a larger work

1. Fast first movement Serious in tone Ritornello form

2. Slow second movement: free form

3. Fast third movement Often a rustic, dance-

like character Ritornello form

Italian, virtuoso violinist Was known as the “Red Priest.” He had red hair and

began career as a priest, suffered from asthma his entire career

Ospedale della Pietà (Hospital of Mercy) 1703-1740◦Taught lessons and conducted the orchestra ◦Became music director ◦Composed concertos for his students◦The all-female orchestra gave weekly concerts

with orchestra seated behind a screen to shield the young ladies from prying eyes

Wrote more than 450 concertos Was banished from from all Catholic countries late in

his life due to unmarried liaison with a soprano Died while visiting Vienna looking for work

Became famous as a music school for girls, some nobles pretended their daughters were orphans to gain entry for them – this was discouraged

The ladies of the Pietà were always known by their instrument or voice. By far the most famous was Anna Maria dal Violin, who was born in 1696 and trained by Vivaldi. She later became maestra of the orchestra and took over Vivaldi’s position

The first of four concertos entitled “The Seasons”

Published in 1725 Vivaldi wrote illustrative

sonnets (poems) for each one Each concerto evokes the

feelings, sounds, and sights of the season it is named after ie: in “Autumn” he specifies the violas are to sound like barking dogs

Vivaldi’s best-known composition

Antonio Vivaldi

Meter: duple Texture: mostly

homophonic Form: ritornello Bright, optimistic

sounds of spring Songbirds/violins chirp Stream/running 1/16

notes Thunderstorm/tremolo

with shooting scales

Listening Guide, page 117-118

Cd #1/ track 25

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFHPRi0ZeXE

Now you can “get” this comic strip…