1.

Definition of the term Baroque

The term Baroque is given to describe the arts (dance, music,

paintings, sculptures) of the late 1600 hundreds to the 1750s
in Europe. Baroque arts were encouraged by Catholic church
as a means to challenge the Reformation and the Protestant
church. The term Baroque originally came directly from the
French and may have adapted from the
Portuguese word Borocco which means a
flawed, oddly or irregularly shaped pearl.
This demonstrated the irregular melodies and art with lack of
connection or music with frequently changing keys and rhythms.

2. Politics of the time

The structure of society in Baroque times included 3 main

categories, the clergy, nobility and everyone else. The
clergy included 130, 000 people; these people worked in
the church with religious duties, they were also exempt
from some taxes and had their own customised law. The
nobility consisted of 120, 000 to 350, 000 people; these
people included royalty (except for the king), lords and ladies. These people were
granted special law treatment, sword rights and were exempt from military service
and some taxes. The largest group holding everyone else consisted of approximately
27 million people who had professions or peasants. These people had no special
rights.

The king for most of the Baroque period was Louis XIV.
He was born in 1638 and became the king of France when
he was 4 years old, in 1643 but he took control of the
government in his 20s. He was a handsome young man, in
good health which took his job as ruler very seriously and
said that whatever was good for him was good for France.
He encouraged the development of the arts during his age,
he was also one of the most powerful monarchs in French
history and his first major war extended the territory of
France by including a part of Flanders. He encouraged baroque arts and was the
longest reigning major monarch in European history.

3. Art developments

The characteristics of the art developments of the

Baroque era include exaggerated motion and clear
detail to produce drama, energy and impressiveness
to show meaning through dance, drama, sculptures,
paintings and other arts.

Artist like Caravaggio turned the powerful and

exaggerated motion by using bold contrasts of light and dark as it enhanced the eye of
people by the physical and emotionally drawn art.
 Unlike Caravaggio, artists such as Annibale Carracc
settled on a more classical visual language which was
shown through using a more vibrant palettes and
balanced compositions of the High Renaissance.

Other artists, such as Giovanni Battista Gaulli,

adventured and bolded on illusionism which blurred boundaries between different art
types (painting, sculpture, and architecture) and also between but also those between
the real and the worlds painters produce. By using doing so, the outcome was showed
through realism, dynamic movement, and exuberant ornamentation.

The 17th-century art was made to impress and convince viewers of the truth by
impacting the senses, awakening the emotions, and making or sharing the viewer’s
space.

4. Architecture and its important developments

Italy mostly dominated the Baroque architectural style in the 1600s. The styles were
based highly on theatre.

One of the first Roman architectural buildings not using the

Mannerist style is called the Church of Santa Susanna. The
church of Santa Susanna was designed by Carlos Maderno.
He used a range of different shaped columns such as
rectangular and cylindrical, he made the church symmetrical
and he used central decoration to add complexity to the front
of the building. The Church’s design started the departure of
the Mannerist style of architecture.

Just like Rome, England built their own Baroque style

architecture, but it wasn’t quite the same. One of the
most know architectural accomplishments is The
Queen’s House at Greenwich which was designed by
Indigo Jones who was one of the first English architects to
introduce the Renaissance style to England. The house
was given a more classical look with less design
complexity. The design itself was much simpler than European architecture.

The Baroque era contributed to some of the architecture today with the European style
being more focused on the design complexity whereas the English style was a more
classical attempt which was much simpler.

5. Science, and the major contributions/inventions developed and discovered

 Knowledge of science grew a lot over the Baroque period as famous scientists like
Isaac Newton and Galileo Galilei (and many more), discovered major things that
influenced astronomy greatly and many medical discoveries.

A major discovery of the time was the optical telescope which

was made and used to study the night sky. Although Galileo
wasn’t the inventor of the telescope, he was the first to use it to
observe celestial objects. With this telescope he found out many
important things like how the moon was not smooth, but actually very rough, crowded
and uneven. The moon was even discovered to have mountains and valleys by
shadows on the face.

There were many other discoveries like the stars in the milky way, sunspots, the
phases of Venus and the moons of Jupiter which were all made manageable because
of the telescope.

For these discoveries, Galileo Galilei definitely played a big contribution to

Astronomy and how far we have gotten to knowing the night sky.

Sir Isaac Newton had a major contribution to architecture in the late

Baroque period. He developed the form of mathematics called
calculus. The equation y = x2 played a major part in making very
strong and stable structures as when it’s graphed out it makes a
shape called a parabola.

His contribution to architectural strength and stability made structures in churches

stronger and more pleasing to the eye.

6. Social life and times

People would get up early in the morning to go to church, where music from
orchestras, and soloists were played.

Women's clothing looked showed their wealth through

ornamentation instead of jewellery. Woman mostly wore long
dresses (gowns). Lace collars were used for decoration and
Vigaro sleeves were sometimes gathered at the elbow.

Mens clothing looked as if from the military. A tight jacket

called a doublet which connected to trousers. Usually tight boots
were worn sometimes turned down with lace. Long hair for men
was popular for men and they usually carried a long sword to
complete the look.
1. Major / minor tonality

Throughout Baroque times and some other periods, major and minor tonality was
used from the major and minor scales bringing strong melodies and chords. In lots of
Baroque music, this type of tonality was used with modulations to closely related
keys. Major-minor tonality dominated the Western music throughout Baroque times.

2. Forms; sonata, concerto grosso, basso continuo, ripieno, concertino, symphony

Sonata;

A Sonata is a long piece of classical music which consist of 3 parts, an exposition, a

development and a recapitulation.

They are compositions for orchestras or solo performers (soloists) and are usually
accompanied by a pianist.

Musicians like Bach and Beethoven composed many famous sonatas for the piano.

Concerto grosso;

Concerto Grosso is a form common to the Baroque period in which the full orchestra
plays contrasting sections with a small group of soloists.

The melody of a concerto grosso is passed back and forth from the soloists to the
orchestra.

The group of soloists usually include 2 violins, an instrument for the bass melody like
a cello and an instrument for the harmony line like the harpsichord.

The orchestra consisted of a small ensemble of string instruments as well as a few

wind and brass players most of the time.

Basso continuo;

Basso continuo means ‘a continuous base line’ and uses two instruments such as a
cello and harpsichord.

The cello (or other base) would take the base line while the harpsichord (or other type
of keyboard) plays chord improvisations.

Ripieno;
 Ripieno is the biggest group of a musical ensemble who don’t play as soloists, the
term is especially used in Barque music.

An example where a ripieno is used is in concerto grosso where the melody is passed
back and forth from the ripieno to the soloists.

Concertino;

A concertino is a soloist or a group of soloists which were used widely in Baroque

music and the form, Concerto grosso.

The concertino refers to the small group of soloists or one soloist who performs with
the ripieno.

Symphony;

A symphony is a lengthy and detailed musical composition for a whole orchestra

which consists of large sections.

The large sections in a symphony are called the 4 movements (parts which move to
the next), one which is always in a sonata form.

A popular symphony in the Baroque time was Beethoven – Symphony No. 6 (1808)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
time_continue=100&v=FuRhF7p4Kvw&feature=emb_logo

3. Genres

The Baroque era expanded many aspects of instrumental performance like size, range
and complexity and also established some musical genres.

Opera;

Opera is an art performed in theatrical style where dramatic work is sung by singers
and musicians. Opera combines text and musical scores together.

Cantata;

A cantata is a piece of music which is formally written for either voice or voice and
instruments. The earliest cantata’s required minimal accompaniment from
instruments.

Oratorio;

Oratorio is a narrative text usually based off stories from the bible or sacred writings.
It is an extended composition which requires a chorus, orchestra and voice soloists.

Concerto;
 A concerto is a musical composition which includes three movements, where a soloist
is accompanied with an orchestra or concert band.

Sonata;

Sonatas are compositions for orchestras or solo performers (soloists) and are usually
accompanied by a pianist which include three parts, fast, slow and fast.

4. Instruments

Many orchestras were used in Baroque time. They

would either be directed by a conductor or a
harpsichord player. The instruments were divided
into 5 categories. The woodwinds, brass, continuo,
strings and timpani. Much of the instruments used
in Baroque times, were older looking and very
basic versions of the ones now.

There were violins, violas, cellos and double basses, recorders and wooden flutes,
oboes and bassoons, sometimes trumpets and/or horns (without valves), kettledrums,
harpsichord and organ.

The basso continuo or continuo part of the composition was usually played on the
harpsichord or organ. The bassline was played by cellos or bassoons. The other
instruments would have their own melodies and music coming through on top of the
bass.

5. Major composers of this era and their significant contributions

There were many main composers of the era, but some of the most popular ones
include Vivaldi, Bach and Handel.

Vivaldi;

His full name being Antonio Lucio Vivaldi. He was born in 1678 and was born in
Venice. He was a composer, a very good violinist, teacher, and a Catholic priest of
Rome.

His most famous composition was a violin concerto called Four Seasons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRxofEmo3HA
. He was remembered for his contributions to Baroque genre of classical music and
his many opera and instrumental performances.

Bach;
 His full name was Johann Sebastian Bach. He was born in 1685 and was born in
Eisenach which is a town in Thuringia, Germany. He was German composer and
musician in the Baroque period.

His most famous composition was known for his instrumental compositions like
Goldberg Variations and Vocal music, one being Mass in B Minor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F7TVM8m95Y
In his years he contributed to 1128 of the compositions made in the time making his
contribution to instrumental and vocal types of Baroque music, very well known.

Handel;

His full name being George Frideric Handel. He was born in 1685, just like Bach and
was born in Germany. He was known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti
grossi and organ concertos.

One of his most popular compositions was The Royal Fireworks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7vJ2UFbeXA
His major contributions guaranteed the success of 3 commercial opera companies of
his days.

6. Characteristics of Baroque music and how it is evident in Baroque music

The characteristics of the Baroque music is explained through the orchestras and
soloists, contrasting performances. The Baroque music used major/minor tonality to
bring strong melodies and chords and used different genres to bring together a variety
of compositions.

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/periods-genres/baroque/
https://www.britannica.com/art/baroque-pearl
https://bachtrack.com/nov-2013-what-is-baroque
https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/france-in-the-seventeenth-century/louis-xiv/
https://learnodo-newtonic.com/louis-xiv-accomplishments
https://prezi.com/6m7rhico9gdz/the-baroque-era-politics-amp-military /
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-arthistory/chapter/the-baroque-period/
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/monarchy-enlightenment/baroque-art1/beginners-
guide-baroque1/a/baroque-art-in-europe-an-introduction
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-arthistory/chapter/the-baroque-period /
https://celinabatchart.wordpress.com/2017/10/13/the-baroque-era-the-expansion-of-scientific-
knowledge/
https://www.atnf.csiro.au/outreach/education/senior/astrophysics/galileo.html
https://diverdave75.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/science-during-the-baroque-period/
http://www.essential-humanities.net/western-art/music/baroque/
https://slideplayer.com/slide/10678172/
https://www.google.com.au/search?
q=what+is+sonata&source=lmns&bih=735&biw=1273&client=opera&hl=en-
GB&ved=2ahUKEwiUx_e9ivjnAhUmjksFHedJBVsQ_AUoAHoECAEQAA
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/sonata
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonata_form
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/concerto-grosso#
https://parkersymphony.org/what-is-a-concerto-grosso
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basso_continuo
http://tegrity.columbiabasin.edu/classes/MUS115RP/Baroque_Trio_Sonata_9/
Baroque_Trio_Sonata_93.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripieno
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z2mv34j/revision/3
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/musicapp_historical/chapter/chapter-1/
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/symphony?s=t
http://www.classical-music.com/article/20-greatest-symphonies-all-time
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/musicapp_historical/chapter/chapter-1/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z2mv34j/revision/2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concerto
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cantata
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Baroque_composers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Vivaldi
https://www.famouscomposers.net/antonio-vivaldi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Sebastian_Bach
https://www.classicfm.com/composers/bach/guides/bach-facts/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Frideric_Handel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_for_the_Royal_Fireworks
https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Frideric-Handel
https://study.com/academy/lesson/baroque-fashion-history-style-characteristics.html
https://historyofeuropeanfashion.wordpress.com/tag/baroque/
https://historyofeuropeanfashion.wordpress.com/tag/baroque/