Baroque Era (1600-1750)
About the Baroque Era
Baroque
– Baroque comes from the word barroco, Portuguese for irregularly shaped pearl.
– First appeared in the mid–18th century.
– Used to describe ornate music
– Used by individuals who were promoting a more minimal musical style.
– When the art and music of the Baroque were rediscovered, the meaning became more
positive.
– Baroque style originated in Italy around 1600 but spread across Europe.
– Painting, literature, dance, theater, sculpture, architecture, and music became more
dramatic, with tension, exuberance, and grandeur.
Polyphony (Polyphonic Texture)
– Two or more independent voices are woven together.
– They were normal during this era
– Composers showcased their talents and ingenuity by layering together several melodies to
create musical compositions.
Homophonic Texture
– A single line of melody
– Supported by a harmonic accompaniment.
Basso Continuo
– Majority of instrumental compositions employed basso continuo.
– A kind of accompaniment.
– Requires two instruments: a lower register instrument (often cello or bassoon) to play the
notated bass line and a chord playing instrument (harpsichord, organ, or lute) to fill in or
“realize” the harmony.
– A type of musical shorthand called “figured bass” indicates which specific chords are to be
played.
– The arrangement, voicing, and texture of the accompaniment are left to the performer.
– This improvisation makes every performance unique.
Figured Bass
,– Uses the notes of the bass line along with numbers to indicate which intervals should be
played above the bass note.
– The figures refer to the notes within the specified key unless accidentals are placed to the left
of the numerals.
– The absence of numerals under the bass note indicates a root position triad.
Ornamentation
– Consists of a musical embellishment to decorate a musical line.
– Represented with symbols or improvised.
– Although the composer could designate the desired ornamentation, it was common during
the baroque era to leave it to the performer to add more ornamentation as they wanted.
Terraced Dynamics
– Difference between harpsichord and piano.
– Piano can create gradual and subtle changes in volume.
– Harpsichord is unable to do such a thing.
– In Baroque keyboard works, abrupt volume shifts may occur within a single piece.
– These kinds of volume shifts are called terraced dynamics.
Johann Sebastian Bach
– Johann Sebastian Bach wrote over 260 works for organ, many of which were composed so he
could showcase his virtuosity as an organist.
– His older brother not only taught him how to play music, but also exposed him to the works
of the great composers of the day,
– These composers would have a profound influence on Bach’s work.
Major/Minor Tonal System
– Prior to the use of major and minor keys, music was based on modes.
– Found in the music of ancient Greece.
– They were a source of melody in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
– The folk music in many cultures is based on modal melodies.
– During the Baroque era, Ionian and Aeolian mode emerged as the preferred modes and
formed the basis of major/minor tonal language.
– Nowadays, modes are being used in jazz, popular, and classical music genres.
Affections
– Emotions such as admiration, love, hatred, desire, joy, and sorrow were all expressed in all art
forms in the Baroque era.
,– The baroque idea was that all emotions could be represented and recognized by outward
signs.
– Baroque composers wanted the audience to experience a particular effect/affection by
hearing it.
– A single affection was projected throughout a composition or movement.
– Baroque philosophy inspired by ancient Greek and Roman writers and orators.
– Also referred to as the “Doctrine of Affections” or “the affects”
The Four Seasons — “Spring”, Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi (Il prete rosso; the red priest)
– Red hair + trained to become a priest
– At 26, he abandoned his duties because of ill health.
– Continued to expand his reputation as an accomplished violinist, conductor, and a highly
prolific composer.
Ritornello Form
– A refrain (or recurring passage) which makes the first movement instantly recognizable.
Programmatic Writing
– A text that accompanies a composition.
– The music was composed to reflect the meaning of the words.
– Poetic text
– The text that inspired this composition was most likely a sonnet written by Vivaldi.
– Poetic representation of birds, gentle breezes, murmuring streams, and lightning and
thunder.
– Vivaldi developed creative ways to represent these images with music.
The Four Seasons, op. 8 “Spring” (No. 1)
– Composed by Antonio Vivaldi in 1725
– Genre: solo violin concerto
– Source of inspiration: sonnets most likely written by Vivaldi, describing the four seasons of
the year. Portions of the text were printed above the corresponding passages in the original
score.
– Performing forces: solo violin, strings, and continuo
– Subtitle of collection: The Contest between Harmony and Inspiration (Il cimento dell’armonia
e dell’invenzione)
Translation
, (first movement)
Spring has arrived and cheerfully
The birds greet her with a festive song
And with the breath of Zephyr
The streams flow with sweet murmurs
Lightning and thunder, chosen to herald her
Cover the sky with a cloak of black
Then while they fall silent, the little birds
Return anew to sing their song
(second movement)
And then on the flowery pleasant meadow
To the dear murmurs of leafy branches and plants
The goatherd sleeps alongside his faithful dog
(third movement)
The shepherd’s bagpipes festively sound
As nymphs and shepherds dance below the beloved sky
At the bright arrival of spring
Concerto Structure
– Popular instrumental genre of the Baroque Era
– Typically have 3 movements
– Usually follow a fast–slow–fast structure.
– Allegro, Largo, Allegro.
– The first and third movements of “Spring” are in ritornello form.
– Concertos of the Baroque era were intended to showcase virtuosity of soloists.
Concertino & Ripieno
– One or more soloists often alternate with a full instrumental ensemble.
– The solo sections (concertino) are contrasted with sections played by the full orchestra
(ripieno).
– Ripieno is Italian for “full” or “complete”
Antonio Vivaldi
– Born in Venice, Italy, 1678
– That day, an earthquake hit
About the Baroque Era
Baroque
– Baroque comes from the word barroco, Portuguese for irregularly shaped pearl.
– First appeared in the mid–18th century.
– Used to describe ornate music
– Used by individuals who were promoting a more minimal musical style.
– When the art and music of the Baroque were rediscovered, the meaning became more
positive.
– Baroque style originated in Italy around 1600 but spread across Europe.
– Painting, literature, dance, theater, sculpture, architecture, and music became more
dramatic, with tension, exuberance, and grandeur.
Polyphony (Polyphonic Texture)
– Two or more independent voices are woven together.
– They were normal during this era
– Composers showcased their talents and ingenuity by layering together several melodies to
create musical compositions.
Homophonic Texture
– A single line of melody
– Supported by a harmonic accompaniment.
Basso Continuo
– Majority of instrumental compositions employed basso continuo.
– A kind of accompaniment.
– Requires two instruments: a lower register instrument (often cello or bassoon) to play the
notated bass line and a chord playing instrument (harpsichord, organ, or lute) to fill in or
“realize” the harmony.
– A type of musical shorthand called “figured bass” indicates which specific chords are to be
played.
– The arrangement, voicing, and texture of the accompaniment are left to the performer.
– This improvisation makes every performance unique.
Figured Bass
,– Uses the notes of the bass line along with numbers to indicate which intervals should be
played above the bass note.
– The figures refer to the notes within the specified key unless accidentals are placed to the left
of the numerals.
– The absence of numerals under the bass note indicates a root position triad.
Ornamentation
– Consists of a musical embellishment to decorate a musical line.
– Represented with symbols or improvised.
– Although the composer could designate the desired ornamentation, it was common during
the baroque era to leave it to the performer to add more ornamentation as they wanted.
Terraced Dynamics
– Difference between harpsichord and piano.
– Piano can create gradual and subtle changes in volume.
– Harpsichord is unable to do such a thing.
– In Baroque keyboard works, abrupt volume shifts may occur within a single piece.
– These kinds of volume shifts are called terraced dynamics.
Johann Sebastian Bach
– Johann Sebastian Bach wrote over 260 works for organ, many of which were composed so he
could showcase his virtuosity as an organist.
– His older brother not only taught him how to play music, but also exposed him to the works
of the great composers of the day,
– These composers would have a profound influence on Bach’s work.
Major/Minor Tonal System
– Prior to the use of major and minor keys, music was based on modes.
– Found in the music of ancient Greece.
– They were a source of melody in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
– The folk music in many cultures is based on modal melodies.
– During the Baroque era, Ionian and Aeolian mode emerged as the preferred modes and
formed the basis of major/minor tonal language.
– Nowadays, modes are being used in jazz, popular, and classical music genres.
Affections
– Emotions such as admiration, love, hatred, desire, joy, and sorrow were all expressed in all art
forms in the Baroque era.
,– The baroque idea was that all emotions could be represented and recognized by outward
signs.
– Baroque composers wanted the audience to experience a particular effect/affection by
hearing it.
– A single affection was projected throughout a composition or movement.
– Baroque philosophy inspired by ancient Greek and Roman writers and orators.
– Also referred to as the “Doctrine of Affections” or “the affects”
The Four Seasons — “Spring”, Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi (Il prete rosso; the red priest)
– Red hair + trained to become a priest
– At 26, he abandoned his duties because of ill health.
– Continued to expand his reputation as an accomplished violinist, conductor, and a highly
prolific composer.
Ritornello Form
– A refrain (or recurring passage) which makes the first movement instantly recognizable.
Programmatic Writing
– A text that accompanies a composition.
– The music was composed to reflect the meaning of the words.
– Poetic text
– The text that inspired this composition was most likely a sonnet written by Vivaldi.
– Poetic representation of birds, gentle breezes, murmuring streams, and lightning and
thunder.
– Vivaldi developed creative ways to represent these images with music.
The Four Seasons, op. 8 “Spring” (No. 1)
– Composed by Antonio Vivaldi in 1725
– Genre: solo violin concerto
– Source of inspiration: sonnets most likely written by Vivaldi, describing the four seasons of
the year. Portions of the text were printed above the corresponding passages in the original
score.
– Performing forces: solo violin, strings, and continuo
– Subtitle of collection: The Contest between Harmony and Inspiration (Il cimento dell’armonia
e dell’invenzione)
Translation
, (first movement)
Spring has arrived and cheerfully
The birds greet her with a festive song
And with the breath of Zephyr
The streams flow with sweet murmurs
Lightning and thunder, chosen to herald her
Cover the sky with a cloak of black
Then while they fall silent, the little birds
Return anew to sing their song
(second movement)
And then on the flowery pleasant meadow
To the dear murmurs of leafy branches and plants
The goatherd sleeps alongside his faithful dog
(third movement)
The shepherd’s bagpipes festively sound
As nymphs and shepherds dance below the beloved sky
At the bright arrival of spring
Concerto Structure
– Popular instrumental genre of the Baroque Era
– Typically have 3 movements
– Usually follow a fast–slow–fast structure.
– Allegro, Largo, Allegro.
– The first and third movements of “Spring” are in ritornello form.
– Concertos of the Baroque era were intended to showcase virtuosity of soloists.
Concertino & Ripieno
– One or more soloists often alternate with a full instrumental ensemble.
– The solo sections (concertino) are contrasted with sections played by the full orchestra
(ripieno).
– Ripieno is Italian for “full” or “complete”
Antonio Vivaldi
– Born in Venice, Italy, 1678
– That day, an earthquake hit
