The Baroque Era
1600-1750
Copyright © 2005 - Frankel Consulting Services, Inc.
What was going on in the world?
1607 - English settle Jamestown
1517-1648 – The Reformation and
Martin Luther
1610 - Galileo confirms the Earth is round
1643-1715 - Louis XIV rules France
1687 - Sir Isaac Newton publishes his Laws of
Universal Gravitation
1732- George Washington born
1744-1748 - French & Indian War
What does the word Baroque mean?
Baroque is a French word from Portugese
origins that means an irregularly shaped
pearl.
Originally the term Baroque was used for
the art works created during this period in
that there was an inherent strangeness and
extravagance associated with them. Only
recently has the term also been used to
include the music, which is anything but
slightly flawed.
Characteristics of Baroque Music
Known as Europe’s Gilded
Age
Musicians were employees of
the wealthy
Returned to the Greek and
Roman ideals
Characteristics, cont.
Characteristics of Baroque Music
Use of a Basso Continuo - harpsichord and cello
providing the base of the composition.
Emphasized contrasts in texture, pace and
volume.
Strong use of improvisation in both melodies, and
the embellishments of those melodies.
Most importantly - if you hear a harpsichord,
it’s almost always Baroque.
Baroque Composers
Johann Sebastian
Bach
1685-1750
From Germany
Composed cantatas
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Famous for his fugues : Toccata
and Fugue in D Minor
Wrote S.D.G. at the end of all his
pieces (to the Glory of God)
His entire family was musical
George Frederic Handel
1685-1759
From England
Composed oratorios
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL
Famous for oratorios
Composed “Messiah” – “Hallelujah
Chorus” is in this piece
Handel was a world traveler and man
of the world
Antonio Vivaldi
1678-1741
From Italy
Composed concertos
Antonio VIVALDI
Virtuoso violinist Wrote over 800 concertos
(500 for solo violin & orch)
Ordained priest
Taught violin at a girls’
Also wrote 100 operas
orphanage in Venice
Majority of his works were
unknown until the 1920s
Wrote over 800 concertos (500
(stored in a church archive)
for solo violin & orchestra)
Majority of his works were
unknown until the 1920s
The Four Seasons (c. 1725)
Baroque Instruments
Flute
Oboe
Recorder
Bassoon
Trumpet
Horn
Viola
Cello
Harpsichords & Claviers
Pipe Organ
Baroque music differs greatly
from Medieval and Renaissance
music.
Uses of Baroque Music
Church Music
Other Religious Songs
Secular Songs (love, politics…)
Instrumental Dances
Courtly Entertainment
Baroque Music Characteristics
Tried to paint pictures – music portrayed
emotion. The stabilization of music as we know it
today.
Instrumental music is popular. It gained equal
importance with vocal music.
There was a transition from the church modes as
represented in Gregorian chants to a major-minor
system, as represented in the major and minor
scales we have today.
Composers used mixed groups of instruments to
perform works of great complexity.
Music was no longer only functional, it was made
to be enjoyed as it’s own entity.
Composers began to search for inspiration for
their compositions in not only the church, but in
nature.
Baroque music is very similar to jazz in it’s use
of improvisation and figured bass.
Polyphony (“many sounds”) returned to a
high status.
Composers employed key characteristics in
their music, including: 1)Unity of mood;
2)Continuity of rhythm; 3)The repeated use
of a melody; 4)The use of terraced
dynamics; 5)The use of polyphonic texture
Even More about Baroque Music
The 1st opera of note was written in 1600 in
Florence, Italy.
Operas often used text from Greek and
Roman mythology
Orchestra, chorus, soloists, staging,
costumes, dancing
Baroque Music Vocabulary
Sonata
Instrumental music with several
movements.
Oratorio
Opera-length works with a clear storyline
but without the production elements.
Counterpoint
Two different notes play simultaneously.
This system began during the Renaissance.
Fugue
This is a polyphonic composition
consisting of a series of successive melody
imitations or the restatement in succession
of identical or nearly identical musical
material in 2 or more parts. A theme is
introduced by one voice, repeated by other
voices, and developed throughout the
piece.
Cantata
Designed specifically to be used in the
Lutheran church service. It is a work for
vocal soloists, chorus, orchestra, and organ.
Various churches today use cantatas to
celebrate such holidays as Easter and
Christmas.
