HISTORY OF THE WESTERN

CLASSICAL MUSIC
The history of the western classical music is divided into six
periods:

1. Middle Ages (5th century till 15th century)

2. Renaissance (1400- 1600)
3. Baroque era (1600-1750)
4. Classicism or classical period (1750-1820)
5. Romanticism or romantic period (1820-1900)
6. 20th century

3. BAROQUE ERA

Baroque era originated rst in Rome, and then spread beyond

Italy to Spain, France, Austria, the Low Countries, and England. The
term Baroque is used to describe the arts during the period 1600-1750. It
begins with the invention of the opera and ends with the death of
Johann Sebastian Bach.
The word Baroque was taken from the Portuguese word barroco,
meaning a pearl of irregular shape used in jewelry and decoration.
Originally the term had a negative connotation to indicate excessive
ornamentation. However, in the twentieth century, the term has come to
assume a positive meaning.
The origin of Baroque music is associated to the creation of
monody, a single melody with accompaniment, and the invention of
opera.

(1) Example of monody by Monteverdi

(https://youtu.be/SyPUJwGEUgA)

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 In the late sixteen century in Florence, Italy, a group of progressive
musicians and intellectuals gather around count Bardi, named Camerata
Florentina o Camerata Bardi, such as Vincezo Galilei (father of astronomer
Galileo Galilei), Peri and Caccini, looked back to the ancient Greek music, in
which every line in a drama was sung not spoken. As a consequence of
their ideas they came up with the opera, a musical genre that combined
drama and music.
After many attempts, the rst great opera emerged in 1607 with
Claudio Monteverdi´s Orfeo.

On the social scene, the classes were divided into

nobility, clergy and the common people. The
power of kings and nobles were supreme.
On the cultural scene, artists continued to be
protected by patrons of the arts.
O n t h e m u s i c a l s c e n e, m u s i c w a s a n
indispensable element for any social activity of
importance.
Instrumentalists began to acquire fame: violinists, organists, etc.
They were capable of playing highly complex pieces, and became
virtuosos.
Changes happened with respect to the former period:

1. Profane music became more popular than religious, and

instrumental more than vocal music.
2. New musical forms appeared: opera, cantata, oratorio, sonata,
concerto, and suite.
3. New vocal forms also appeared: opera

Characteristics of baroque music

Baroque period gave rise to a variety of
musical styles, such expressive monody of
Claudio Monterverdi or the complex polyphony
of Johan Sebastian Bach.

However, there are two elements that remain

constant throughout the Baroque period: an
expressive melody and a strong supporting bass.

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(2) Folia by Arcangelo Corelli (example of expressive melody
and strong supporting bass) (https://youtu.be/ty2B8cQtIU4)

1. Expressive melody: While Renaissance music

was dominated by polyphonic texture, in which
the importance of all the melodies is equal, in
Baroque music there is a polarity between the
top and bottom lines (soprano and bass). The
new kind of singing was rst called monody (from
Greek terms meaning “to sing alone”), a singer
accompanied by several instruments.

2. The basso continuo is a chordal support played

by one or more instruments. Harpsichord (the instrument in the
picture) and a low string instrument (viola da gamba) formed the most
common basso continuo.

Musical forms
1. Instrumental forms:

The emancipation of
instrumental music that started
in the Renaissance continues
during the Baroque becoming an
important and independent
genre.

The technical evolution of instruments gave birth to more stable

ensembles (orchestras), organized in string, woodwind, brass and
percussion.
Luthiers (instrument makers), such as Amati, Stradivarius, and
Guarneri, contributed to develop new instruments, like the string
family.

a. Sonata: is a type of instrumental chamber music for a single

instrument (solo sonata) or three (trio sonata) with basso continuo. It
is a compound form divided into four movements or sections that
contrast along: slow-fast-slow-fast.
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 (3) Solo sonata by Johan Sebastian Bach (this is the second
movement of the sonata, Adagio, slow tempo) (https://
youtu.be/_0Yj2_4hrjA)

(4) Trio sonata by Arcangelo Corelli (https://youtu.be/

CwJRzYv6HNI)

b. Concerto: is a musical composition marked by a friendly competition

between a soloist and an orchestra. It is a compound form divided
into three contrasting movements: Fast-Slow-Fast, though some
concerts had more parts like the example number 5 below, which is
a concerto grosso by George Frideric Handel in 5 movements.

a. Concerto grosso: for a group of Soloists (concertino) and

Orchestra (tutti). Some important composers of this musical
form were Arcangello Corelli, Georg Friedric Haendel and
Johann Sebastian Bach.
(5) Concerto grosso in G major by George Frideric Handel (this is
the fth movement, allegro) (https://youtu.be/btvzre63GZE)

b. Solo concerto: consists of a single soloist instrument and

orchestra. The most prominent composer was Antonio Vivaldi.

(6) Solo concerto: “Summer” violin concert in G minor by

Antonio Vivaldi (the violin is the soloist instrument) (https://
youtu.be/-fpvdXNcr90)

c. Suit: is a musical composition consisting of a collection of dances.

(7) Orchestral suit in D major by J. S. Bach (https://youtu.be/

oqU4rF_ysQo)

2. Vocal forms:
a. Opera: is a musical form that requieres the union of music, drama,
scenery, costumes, and often dances. It always begins with an
instrumental introduction called Overture. There are two main kind
of vocal forms in an opera: aria and recitative.

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 i. Aria: is a lyrical composition, and is used to express the

emotional state of the main character.

(8) Arias by Antonio Vivaldi (this link is a series of arias

composed by Antonio Vivaldi interpreted in a concert
format) (https://youtu.be/AxwyQZhBlZw)

ii. Recitative: is a speech-like composition, and is used to

communicate the plot of the opera. The instrumental
accompaniment is simpler than in an aria.

(9) Recitative from the opera Orfeo by Claudio Monterverdi

(https://youtu.be/MC-wybIs5Cs)

iii. Overture: is the instrumental part that serves as introduction to

the opera (the rst part). Bellow you have two di erent examples
of overtures, the rst one belongs to the beginning of the
baroque period, and the second to the end of the period, almost
a century between them.

(9) Overture from the opera Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi

(https://youtu.be/Kr59-4IUVq8)

(10)Overture from the opera Giove in Argo composed by G. F.

Handel (this is concert version, without drama on the stage)
(https://youtu.be/Kr59-4IUVq8)

b. Cantata: it is the same than opera but without drama on the stage.

(11) Cantata composed by J. S. Bach (this is a complete cantata,

with all the parts: overture, arias, choruses, instrumental
passages) (https://youtu.be/CwGWocp80-o)

c. Oratorio: it is the same than cantata but with religious themes.

Bellow there are two items from the oratorio Messiah by Handel, a
choir, and an aria.

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(12) Hallelujah from the Oratorio Messiah composed by G. F.
Handel (https://youtu.be/9INrvk6AxzU)

(13) Aria from the Oratorio Messiah composed by G. F. Handel

(https://youtu.be/kVB5r-ui-C8)

Composers
Early Baroque composers: Claudio Monteverdi
(Italian)
Middle Baroque composers: Jean-Baptiste Lully
(French), Arcangelo Corelli (Italian), Antonio Vivaldi
(Italian), Henry Purcell (English)
Late Baroque composers: George Frideric Handel),
Johan Sebastian Bach (German)

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Instruments in the baroque orchestra

Bassoon / Timpani / Natural trumpets

Oboes Double bass

Violas Cellos

First violins Harpsichord Second violins