Music of the

Baroque
Period
1600-1750
 Baroque Period (Baroco)

•Written according to patron’s

specifications.
•Commissioned by aristocratic
courts, churches, municipalities,
and opera houses.
•Opera was invented (a drama sung
to orchestral accompaniment.
•Homophonic textures and
contrasts of sounds.
•Baroque pieces follow a basic
mood that begins joyfully and
remains as such throughout.
•In vocal music, strong changes
of emotion in a text may inspire
corresponding changes to the
music.
•Melodic theme will be heard
again and again.
•Ornamentals are very evident.
•Terraced dynamics – sudden
change of dynamics
•Crescendo – gradual increase in
volume
•Decresecdo – gradual decrease
in volume
 Baroque Musical Texture

•Polyphonic texture.
•2 or more melodic lines compete
in the music composition.
•Baroque composers also differed
in the musical texture.
MUSICAL STYLES
 Concerto Grosso (big group)

•Refer to many type of music

•It included instrumental and vocal
music.
•17 century, limit the term
th
concerto to instrumental
ensemble (soloist & accompanying
group.
•Solo concerto – one solo
instrument with the orchestra.
•Ripieno – soloist is
accompanied by a larger group
of musicians.
•Concerto grosso – consists of a
group of multiple soloists called
concertino.
 Concerto Grosso Multi-
Movement Form
•Consists of several movements that
contrasts in tempo and character.
•It has 3 movements:
•Fast – energetic and determined
•Slow – quieter than the first
(intimate and romantic)
•Fast – dynamic and lively
(dancelike)
 Baroque Orchestra
•Evolved into a performing group
based on the instruments of the
violin section.
•Orchestra is small and consists of
30 players.
•Trumpet player was the star of the
baroque orchestra.
•Choice of instrument being used
in the orchestra was given big
considerations by Bach, Handel,
Vivaldi and other composers.
 Fugue

•It means to flee.

•Contrapuntal piece that can be
use for voices, group of
instruments or single keyboard
instruments like the harpsichord
or organ.
•Polyphonic in texture.
 Tocatta

•Composition for keyboard

instruments.
•It is usually virtuosic, involving
fast or difficult playing by the
performer
 Counterpoint

•Consists of 2 or more
melodies played at the same
time that establish a
harmonic relationship.
 Oratorio

•It came after a name of the church

room called “oratory” where
prayers where offered.
•Little musical plays with choruses
and solos for boys’ voices.
 Cantata

•It means to sing.

•Similar to oratorio except that is
it short lyrical form dealing with
a secular or sacred theme.
•Written for a small number of
performers.
 Baroque Keyboard Music

•Primary keyboard instrument in

the organ and harpsichord.
 Chords and the Basso
Continuo
•Bass part became the foundation
of harmony.
•It is an accompaniment played by
2 instruments.
 Prominent composers

•Johann Sebastian Bach

•Heir to the polyphonic art of the
past
•Titans in the history of Western
music.
•Came from a family of musicians
•Family was everything for him
•George Frederic Handel
•Studied works of Italian composers
and applied the styles on his own.
•He wrote operas, oratorios and
performed them in concert halls.
•His famous piece was “Hallelujah
Chorus”