Music of the Baroque

Period

By: Group 8
 History of Baroque Period
Baroque music is a style of Western art music composed
from approximately 1600 to 1750. The word "baroque"
comes from the Portuguese word barroco,
meaning MISSHAPEN PEARL. The use of the word with
negative connotations was first used in 1734, in a criticism
of an opera by Jean-Philippe Rameau, and later (1750) in a
description by Charles de Brosses of the ornate and heavily
ornamented architecture of the Pamphili Palace in Rome.
Although the term continued to be applied to architecture
and art criticism through the 19th century, it was not until
the 20th century that the term "baroque" was adopted
from Heinrich Wölfflin's art-history vocabulary as a
designator for a historical period in music.[1]
 Terraced Dynamics
Terraced dynamics are most notably used in
Renaissance and Baroque classical pieces due to the
prevalence of the harpsichord during these periods.
The harpsichord is a Medieval musical instrument
similar to the piano, often constructed with two
keyboards to allow for a greater musical range.
Unlike the piano, the harpsichord is not capable of
producing subtle variations in volume. This
limitation is responsible for the prevalence of
terraced dynamics in Renaissance and Baroque
music; as crescendos and decrescendos were
generally impossible, composers were forced to
employ this more abrupt style
Periods and Eras of
Western Classical
music
 Early Common Modern and
Practice contemporary
Medieval Baroque High modern
500-1400 1600-1670 1890-1975

Renaissance Classical 20th Century

1400-1600 1730-1820

Romantic
1780-1910

Impressionist
1875-1925
Music in the Baroque Era – 1600-1750
Italy in the 1600’s was not the united country it now
has become. Parts of the peninsula were ruled by Spain
or Austria, and many were small, independent states
that constantly warred against each other for power
and influence. The major power centers of Italy each
specialized in a different aspect of musical innovation,
including Rome, Naples, Venice, and Florence. Even
France and Germany displayed Italian musical
techniques which continued to hold influence through
the time of J.S. Bach and Handel. Many of the
outdated techniques of the 16th century were
beginning to coalesce into a single, common language
spread throughout Europe.
In 1605, Claudio Monteverdi wrote of what he
termed a “second practice” of musical
composition, as opposed to the “first practice”
as originally outlined by the leading musical
theorist Giuseppe Zarlino. Monteverdi’s style
was based on the earlier work of Renaissance
composers such as Cipriano de Rore, Claudio
Merulo, and himself. His primary difference
lay in his emphasis of where the text would
dominate the music, unlike the music
dominated practice of Zarlino and his
contemporaries.
In Monteverdi’s view, Zarlino’s “rules” could
be abandoned and the use of dissonances and
changing meters could be part of the
structural core of the music. Other theorists
called the two the stile antico (antique) and
stile moderno (modern). These new
innovations could be used in the compositions
of music for the church, the theatre, and
chamber music.
Vocal Forms
The vocal forms of the Baroque periiod follow
the monodic style of music wherein a single
voice part was predominant and supported by
an accompaniment played by diferent
instruments such as the viola de gama and the
harphiscord (early keyboard instruments). This
accompaniment, which is called the basso
continuo or figured bass or thorough bass,
consists of a written bass line with numerlas
below the notes. Here are some vocal forms
used in the Baroque Period:
 Opera
Opera is an art where musicians, both singers
and intrumentalists, perform a dramatic
composition putting the libretto (text) and the
musical score together accompanied by the
orchestra or a much smaller ensemble. Elements
of spoken theater like acting, costumes and
scenaries are incorporated in an opera. During
the Baroque, themes of an opera were mostly
based on history and mythology. One example of
an work is Monteverdi’s “L’orfeo.
 Here are some
instruments usually used
in Operas:
The lutes is a plucked string instrument
with a neck (either fretted or unfretted) and a
deep round back
• The cornet is a brass instrument very similar
to the trumpet, distinguished by its
conical bore, compact shape.
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by
means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a
string when a key is pressed. The harpsichord was
widely used in Renaissance and Baroque music.
 Cantata
The italian word cantata which means “sung” is
a vocal composition for a soloist or choir
accompanied by instruments. Its themes are
based on a narrative poem of secular or religious,
lyrical or dramatic in nature. “Awake, A Voice Is
Calling Us”, is one of JS Bach’s best known
cantata.
 Oratorio
Oratorio is an extended musical drama with a
narration based on religious matter intended to be
performed without scenery, actoon or costumes. It is a
large composition for chorus, vocal soloist and
orchestra. The “Messiah” is one well known oratorio of
Handel where the famous “Hallelujah Chorus” was
taken. It is meditative rather than dramatic in nature
that deals with a New Testament sunject but with no
plot.
 Instrumentals Forms
Concerto Suite
Grosso
 Concerto Grosso
The most important orchestral music in the
baroque period is the Concerto Grosso. It
consists mainly of string instruments with few
solo instruments called concertino which plays
in opposition to the whole orchestra called tutti .
Tutti is composed of harpsichord as part of the
Basso continuo another stringed instruments.
The concerto grosso consists of three
movements.
Fast: the opening movement is vigorous and
determined, clearly showing the contrast between the
soloists and tutti

Slow: the second movement is quieter than the first,

often lyrical and intimate.

Fast: the last movement of the concerto gross has

contrast in tempo and character. It is livfely and
carefree with a dance-like character.
Some example of concerto
grosso:
An example of a famous concerto grosso is the
“Bradenburg Concerto in D major” written by
Johann Sebastian Bach (J.S Bach).
And also the “Christmas Concerto” by
Arcangelo Corelli.
 Suite
This form refers to a group of works held together by
story, mood or idea. It is an instrumental music with
different movements in the same key based on dance
music to be performed at a single sitting. Other terms
for Baroque group dances include Partita, Overture
and Sonata de Camara “Water music” by Handel and
“Badinerie” from Suite No.2 in Bminor by J.S Bach are
examples of SUITE
And thats all, thank you very much
for listening:

“Music of the Baroque Period”