The Baroque Period

1600-1750
 What is the Baroque period?
The Baroque period lasted from 1600 - 1750, with countless composers, some of
which were Johann Sebastian Bach, Henry Purcell, Antonio Vivaldi, and Johann
Pachelbel. These composers were famous for their compositions with the violin,
the main instrument in this period. The violin itself was created in the early 16th
century commonly used with the harpsichord, the second Baroque instrument
made around the same time.The style of music was very dramatic, and energetic
spirit but also for its diversity in its style, and was the first to use minor and major
scales.
 Baroque Composers
Henry purcell
Antonio Vivaldi
Henry purcell was a composer in the
Antonio Vivaldi was a composer in the Baroque Baroque period. Born in Westminster,
period from the 4 March 1678 to the 28 July 1741 London on the 10th of September
(63 years) His most famous piece of music was ‘The 1659, he is said to have been the best
4 seasons’. His music tended to be uplifting, but British composer. He composed pieces
sometimes disheartening. He uses the sound of the like Dido and Aeneas, and Rondeau
violin to his advantage, to make things sound sad by from Abdelazer. And when he died in
holding the notes more, and to make something 1695 12 November, he was buried in
sound happy he would play the notes shorter. Westminster Abbey. His music was
typically fast paced and high pitched.
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Pachelbel
Johann sebastian Bach was a composer in the
Baroque period from 31 March 1685 to the 24 of July Johann Pachelbel was a composer in
1750. As of his death, historians typically agree this the Baroque period. Born in 1653,
was the end of the Baroque period. His most famous Nuremberg. His most famous
piece is probably Toccata and Fugue, composed before composition was Canon in D major. He
1708. He also was a cantor (the worship leader of an made other pieces like Fugue in C
Eastern Orthodox church). Most of his music was major, and Chaconne in F minor. His
typically fast paced, not concentrating on an instrument style of music was typically slow, and
or another, but you could see the use of the violin being focused mostly on the violin, and the
played most of the time. pitch range he used varied.
 Baroque instruments
Baroque Orchestra
Violin This is a typical Baroque
The Violin was made in Harpsichord
Orchestra, consisting of: Wooden
the early 16th century, far The Harpsichord,
flutes, Bassons, Timpani, natural
before the Baroque along with the violin,
Trumpets, Violins, Violas, Cellos
period began. The exact was made in the 16th
and the harpsichord. These 8
inventor of this instrument century in Italy. Again
instruments can sometimes be
isn’t quite known but it is no one knows who
heard in most Baroque music
known that it was made in made this instrument.
excluding some like Toccata and
the northern parts of Italy. The harpsichord
Fugue which uses the Organ.
The violin also consists of works similarly to the
the Violin and the Bow, piano.
the bow is used to play the violin, and It uses keys which when pressed would
horsehair is the only string you can move a pin down onto a string that would
use to make the violin play well. vibrate and make a sound. The
Harpsichord would also have two sets of
keys and strings. These days this
instrument isn’t used to much due to its
sound.
 The 4 seasons (Spring) - Vivaldi Dido and Aeneas - Purcell

Canon in D major - Pachelbel Bach C Major Prelude - Bach

 Quiz
Answers
1. Antonio Vivaldi lived for how long?
63 years.

2. What two instruments were used most commonly in the Baroque period and when
were they made?
The harpsichord and the violin.

3. In the Baroque period what did an orchestra look like?

4. Name 3 composers with their pieces from the Baroque period in this presentation.
Vivaldi - The 4 seasons, Pachelbel - Canon in D major, Purcell - Dido and Aeneas, Bach - Toccata and Fugue.

5. What was the longest piece given from the previous slide? Dido and Aeneas - 55 mins.