Baroque EraBaroque Era

1600 - 17501600 - 1750

Baroque = “Age of Excess”Extravagant Style

, Excessive, Massive, Ornamented

Vocal music was as important as instrumental music.

Sacred music was as important as secular music.

Music continued to develop in a polyphonic style (Bach)

• Music also began to develop in a homophonic style (music with accompaniment). • Usually the higher voice part was given the melody, while the lower parts would sing harmony. • The most important voice part was the Soprano

In the Renaissance, music sounded the same from beginning to end.

In Baroque music, composers began to write contrasting sections within a piece.

Contrasting Sections

A. A slow section would come after a fast section.

B. A soft section would come after a loud section.

C. The sonata is the new musical form that developed during this time.

D. A sonata is an instrumental work that has 3 contrasting movements.

New Forms

A. Cantata – could be either sacred or secular, a choral piece with accompaniment.

B. Oratorio – sacred music, choral piece with accompaniment.

C. Neither of these forms used staging, scenery, or costumes.

Other new music forms evolved that had contrasting movements.

The first The first operaopera was written during this time. It is a was written during this time. It is a play, set to music, and staged, usually lasting 3 to play, set to music, and staged, usually lasting 3 to

4 hours. 4 hours.

Instead of doubling the voice parts, instruments now accompanied the vocalists.

The development of the modern orchestra began during this period, but it was generally made up of

only string instruments.

Music notation developed intoessentially the same notation we use today. (Staff, clefs, etc.)

Instruments of the BaroqueInstruments of the Baroque

StringsStrings ViolinViolin

ViolaViola

CelloCello

Harpsichord/BassHarpsichord/Bass

WoodwindsWoodwinds FluteFlute

OboeOboe

ClarinetClarinet

Some form of BassoonSome form of Bassoon

BrassBrass TrumpetTrumpet

TrombonesTrombones

PercussionPercussion

TimpaniTimpani

II. Baroque Music Culture

A. “Age of Excess”: Love of Extravagant, Excessive, Massive

During the Baroque period, music became more expressive.

People went to concerts for the sole purpose of hearing the music.

St. Mark’s Cathedral, built in the shape of a cross, began polychoral music because there were two organs and two choirs that would perform at the same time.

•Cori spezzati (lit. broken choirs) = polychoral w. spatial separation

Although science made great strides, superstition was still rampant.

Religious persecution caused the Puritans to come to America. The first book printed in America was a Puritan book of Psalms, in 1640.

On the day Michelangelo died, Galileo was born.

He became one of the greatest scientists and got in a lot of trouble with the church for his theory that the Earth was not the center of the universe, but the earth revolved around the sun.

In 1642 when Galileo died, Isaac Newton was born. He too was fascinated with science, and know him for studying gravity. He also studied the swinging of the pendulum, which eventually led to the invention of the metronome in the 19th century.

•Music was only supposed to convey one emotion per piece.

•During this time, the tonal system was developed and triads were first used.

Baroque music (and art) was filled with ornamentation.

Performers were expected to ornament things on the spot – like jazz improvisation.

Basso Continuo

Chordal accompaniment of Baroque

Improvised above written bass notes

Harmony indicated by number-shorthand (figured bass notation)

AmazeAstonish

Move the Emotions

Text which is set to music is called the libretto.

Goals of Early Opera:

Florence, Italy

Where it began

Recitative – very similar to spoken words. Used for plot.

Aria – more like a song, where rhythm is definite. Used for reflection.

During the Renaissance, the castrati had been admired for their extreme range and power in their voices.

Now women were starting to get beautiful singing roles. The prima donna, or first lady in opera, generally became the star.

Antonio VivaldiAntonio Vivaldi

FAMOUS COMPOSERSFAMOUS COMPOSERS

George F. HandelGeorge F. Handel

Johann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian Bach

FAMOUS COMPOSERSFAMOUS COMPOSERS

Domenico ScarlattiDomenico Scarlatti